Snow???

There is this white stuff falling from the sky. I think I remember it as snow. It has been since last March since it has snowed here in the area (between Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio). Everyone around us has gotten snow but us. I think I finally got my snow that I ordered from Crafty Sue in Italy last week! Jaiden is dying to make a snowman! We were promised some last week but it never came. Jaiden told me I lied to her when she got up that morning. I told her that it wasn't my fault. She was so disappointed! I cannot wait until she gets home from school!!

This is a short video I took from my bedroom window.

Superbowl Links

Here are a few ideas to get your Superbowl party going:

Game Day Ideas

Good Housekeeping Recipe Index

Family Recipes & Ideas

Game Day Recipes

Valentine Links

Here are some really neat Valentine projects I found this morning:

Soap Dispenser

Kids Crafts

Paper Treat Purse

Trinket Box

Candy Hearts

Conversation Heart Cookies

Sweet Heart Lollipops

Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies

Let me first say, these are for people that are serious about chocolate! These are not grab one and go, they are plate and fork required brownies. So moist and gooey, and super simple to make!

I got the idea from Bakerella who got the recipe from the Betty Crocker web site. I had all of the ingredients on hand and it is a cold day, so I thought, "Why not??" The Betty Crocker site says to use regular chocolate icing and Bakerella used a chocolate ganache to top her brownies. I was in the middle, I used regular icing but I melted it on the stove to be more like a ganache.

I just followed the directions found on Betty Crocker. Also, I just used regular brownie mix and not the Supreme Brownie mix as listed.

Here's what they look like out of the oven:

Like I stated before, I put some icing in a pot and heated it until it was melted. I then spread it over the brownie and let it set.


These are sweet, be sure to have plenty of milk on hand! And, I hope I didn't ruin too many diets!

Cherry Pie Gone Wrong

This was supposed to be a beautiful cherry pie to share so that you could make it for your special Valentine. I instead got this pie. I had so much trouble trying to make this pie that I decided to post the picture anyway.

I first didn't get enough of pie filling so the half made pie had to go into the fridge overnight. Then when I did get the filling and went to put the top crust on, it kept cracking and splitting. I tried to roll it and pinch it back together but, it just didn't work. Then, I tried to sprinkle some cinnamon on top and the plastic sprinkle top fell off leaving me with a mountain of cinnamon on top; hence the brown spots. And lastly, because of the split top crust, the edges broke off which caused the filling to run over the top of the pie.

All of this being said, it really is an easy pie to make! I just was having a bad baking day and I think my crust might have been too old! When done right, this would make a "sweet" gift for the "Sweet Treat" in your life!

Cherry Pie

2 refrigerated pie crusts, at room temp.
2 cans cherry pie filling.
dash milk

Extras:
Pie pan
miniature heart cookie cutters

1. Place one crust in pan. Press sides and edges down.
2. Dump both cans of pie filling in pie crust.
3. Slightly roll out top crust. Use cookie cutters to make vents on crust.
4. Add top crust and pinch crusts together.
5. Brush top crust lightly with milk.
6. Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Happy Birthday!!!

Today is Ryan's birthday!! We celebrated last night with the girls. Jaiden had me buy balloons, streamers, and butterfly plates. Ryan picked out gumbo as his birthday dinner choice. It was so good!! I'll have to post the recipes later.

I am so lucky to have Ryan for a husband!! He is a great husband and great father to our girls!! Happy Birthday, honey!!! I love you!!

Conversation Hearts

I found this really neat site, Acme Heart Maker, that allows you to make your own conversational hearts for web pages and blogs. I had a lot of fun playing around with this!!!

According to Info Please, "Conversation hearts were invented in the 1860s by the brother of NECCO's founder. These first hearts had printed paper notes tucked inside. The lengthy, old-fashioned sayings included such wistful thoughts as 'Please send a lock of your hair by return mail'.

Some favorites among the more than one hundred Sweetheart sayings have been in circulation since the hearts were first factory-made in 1902. These classics include "Kiss Me," "Sweet Talk," and "Be Mine." Sometimes a motto is discontinued for a time and then makes a reappearance; others are gone for good. Sayings considered outdated by NECCO include the funky "Dig Me" and the cheerful "You Are Gay."

NECCO must produce about 100,000 pounds of the candy hearts every day in order to meet the Valentine demand, when about 8 billion hearts are sold in six weeks." Candy Heart History

Penguins

This is one of my all time favorite winter decorations!! My mom got it for me at a craft show 2 years ago. Each one of the penguin hats has our names. It looks so pretty when it is lit up. I think it is for the outside, but I like to keep it in where I can see it and also where it cannot get stolen.

I would think this would be fairly easy to make for any one with painting skills. It has a square base and a pole with green garland and lights running up it. The piece of paper on the top is just covering our last name for the photo, it isn't part of the design.

Valentine Fortune Cookies

I got this really cute idea to make Valentine fortune cookies from Martha Stewart.

Her site has the complete step by step instructions of how to make them. I did 2 different things when making mine than what her directions stated. First, I used hot glue. This worked very nicely! I don't have a half of a hour to wait for glue to dry! Second, I made the cookies a 4" instead of the 4 1/2" she suggests. I thought they looked a little too big and not very realistic.

I think I am going to get a smaller Chinese carry out box and place two fortune cookies inside. I am going to also put some Hershey Kisses in the box. Jaiden wants to give these to her classmates instead of the paper Valentine cards.

Chocolate Valentine Pretzels

I have seen these pretzels selling in the
"gourmet" section of our grocery for $5.00 and I made these for pennies!! The pretzels are so easy and quick to make and they make a great Valentine's treat!

You could even use regular chocolate but, I thought white chocolate went more with the "Valentine theme". You can decorate them any way with all of the festive sprinkles out there!



Chocolate Valentine Pretzels

12 oz. white chocolate chips (can use block white chocolate)
1/4 block of paraffin wax
Box of Snyder's of Hanover Pretzels*
sprinkles

Extras
wax paper
cookie sheet
knife
fork
plastic food bags
ribbon

1. Line cookie sheet with wax paper.
2. Melt wax in small pan over low heat.
3. Add chocolate and stir until melted.
4. Dip pretzel in chocolate. Use knife to get into loop to turn it over and remove from pan. With the help of the fork, lay it on wax paper.
5. Sprinkle the pretzel with sprinkles.
6. Place in freezer for 5 minutes or so. This will allow chocolate to completely set.
7. Place in plastic bag and tie with ribbon.


*Snyder's of Hanover are the larger sourdough pretzels in a brown box. I got about 10 whole pretzels out of one box, the rest were broken.

Shh!!!! I'm Sleeping!!!

Doll Cupcake

Isn't this the cutest cupcake??? I bought this for Jaiden at the grocery last week for $2. I have seen the Barbie cakes but never a cupcake before. This cupcake was big enough for all four of us! My only disappointment about the cupcake was the doll. She wasn't a complete doll, just a cake pick. Jaiden was a little upset when she wasn't allowed to have the doll. It was my fault, but I never thought she wasn't a real doll.

I thought these would be cute to make for a birthday party. Each child could have their very own cupcake with a little doll. I think you can find the dolls at Oriental Trading.

Pumpkin Roll

This was my first ever attempt to make a pumpkin roll. I have always been intimidated to make them. I decided to make one and it turned out wonderful! Since then I have made a total of 4 more.

If you have been wanting to make one, go ahead!! They aren't hard to make, just a little messy. The most time spent making them is the cooling time.

Pumpkin Roll

3 eggs
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2/3 c. pumpkin (not pumpkin pie)*
2 tsp. cinnamon

Filling
1 c. powdered sugar
3/4 tsp. vanilla
2 T. butter, very soft
8 oz. cream cheese, very soft

Extras
wax paper
powdered sugar for dusting
15x10x1 jelly roll pan

Mix all cake ingredients except eggs and pumpkin. Add eggs and pumpkin and mix well. Spread cake in to the greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.

Take cake out of oven and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes. Lay a sheet of wax paper on table. Run a knife around edges of cake to loosen. Turn cake onto wax paper. Roll cake into a roll bring wax paper into the roll also. Be careful, cake will be hot. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

When cake has cooled, unroll. Spread filling on cake as even as possible. Roll cake back up but this time leave the wax paper just on the outside of the cake. Place in fridge for about an hour. Dust with powdered sugar when ready to serve. Cake is easier to cut when it is refrigerated.

I have heard that these rolls can be frozen but, I have never tried it.

*A 29 oz. can of pumpkin makes 5 roll.

Stocking Bags

I decided to do a little something different for our Christmas stockings. I think they are just too small and cannot accommodate all of the goodies we receive. The items that won't fit into the stockings just end up in a Walmart bag on the floor next to the stockings.

I decided to eliminate the stocking all together and just go for the bag. I bought plain red paper bags at the Dollar Store. We got all kinds of glitter, stickers, markers, and paint to decorate the bags. We had had the best time making our masterpieces.

I decided to make this a tradition and keep the bags every year and give them to the girls when they get older.

Saw Clock

This is what I made my dad for Christmas this year. I bought the saw blade cut out at Hobby Lobby. I then painted it silver, bought press on clock numbers, and a clock kit. Jaiden wanted Papa Charlie to hang it in his workshop. I think it turned out really cute.

Charity Doll Pattern

These are such cute dolls that are designed to wrap their arms around a very special child. They are called Dolly Hugs and are just adorable! The only requirement to get this free doll pattern is that you do not sell the final product. Be sure to to get the patterns to make the outfits also!

Dolly Hugs

Doll Pattern

Doll Instructions

Clothing Instructions

Veggie Pizza

This is another tasty, quick and easy recipe to make. The topping possibilities are endless with all of the different types of vegetables.

Veggie Pizza

2 rolls of crescent crusts*
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 pkg. dry Ranch seasoning
1 T dried dill
finely chopped assorted vegetables**

Place both crusts on a jelly roll pan and pinch seam to form one big crust. Bake according to roll directions. Press down on crust to rid it of puffiness. Allow to cool.

Using a mixer, mix cream cheese, dill and Ranch seasoning. Spread on pizza. Cut pizza into squares. Top with favorite vegetables and shredded cheese, if desired.

*You can use the crescent rolls and pinch all of the seams. I just noticed at the grocery that Pillsbury makes a new product where the crescent rolls come in one big sheet. They are perfect for this recipe.

**I used broccoli, cauliflower, and shredded cheese.

Walking Taco

I just don't think it is possible to go to a festival, fair, or craft show around here without Walking Tacos being sold! These are so good and easy to make! Walking Tacos make a great party food, just have the meat and Fritos ready to go. Then, use a multi-section serving platter to hold salsa, cheese, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes.

I have even cooked these for a quick and easy dinner. Ryan loves them!!


Walking Tacos

1 lb. ground beef (any ground meat)
1 pkg. taco seasoning
8 snack size bags of Fritos*
assorted taco toppings

Fry and drain meat. Add taco seasoning and water (according to directions on packet). Open Fritos and add about 2 tablespoons of meat. Top with favorite taco toppings.

*When making these for dinner, I only use 4 bags of Fritos because I use more meat for each taco to make them more filling.

Family Christmas Photos

Arya eating a Christmas cupcake

Jaiden as an angel at her Christmas play at school


Family minus Arya (too cold for her) downtown enjoying the Christmas decorations


Jaiden and Santa (I found a place that lets you take your own pictures w/ a canned food donation!)


The girls in their matching outfits outside our house

Light Up Snowman Wreath

These are so easy and look so nice lit up. I like to hang mine on my front porch.

To make these you'll need:
3 wreaths, ascending in size
floral wire
set of indoor/outdoor lights

Use floral wire to attach wreaths together to form snowman. Wrap lights around wreaths, going in and out of each wreath.

You can add a scarf and hat to wreaths if you desire.