Butterscotch Chippits

This is one of my all time favorite desserts, it is simple, quick and delicious!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

1 regular sized package of butterscotch chips

1 package of small marshmallows

Directions:

1- Melt the first three ingredients together over low heat, stirring constantly

2- Let cool for 5 minutes

3- Stir in most of the marshmallows (all if you so desire :) )

4- Spread into an 8x12 sprayed pan

5- Cool completely before cutting into squares.

These should stay refrigerated, but can be out for a little while, they just get a bit soft as they warm up.

Hope you enjoy these wonderful little treats!

Christmas Garland

This Christmas Garland is so easy to make and looks great on a fireplace mantle or draped around your front door.

I love decorating our home for Christmas with real garlands, so when we got our tree this year, I used the cuttings off the bottom to make this garland.  This is just a simple garland, but it can be spruced up with pine cones, lights and ornaments.

Materials needed:

Twine

Floral wire

Cuttings from your tree

Pruning sheers

Instructions:

Cut several smaller branches off your tree and cut the twine to the length you would like your garland to be.  Starting at one end of the twine, lay the cutting on your twine and wire it in place.  Overlap another cutting and continue to wire it.  Continue this until the whole twine is used, overlapping and wiring as you go. 

That's it!  Easy, elegant and beautiful!

Fall Leaf Jar

The kids and I had lots of fun this fall looking for the perfect leaves.  We were finding them everywhere we went and collecting them for crafts and projects.

This is a simple idea using Decoupage to add our beautiful leaves to an empty glass jar for a candle.

These jars were made by my 6 year old daughter, but it was such an easy craft that even my three year old made one!

Mystery Braided Leather Keychain

I made this keychain for my Dad out of some scrap leather and a really neat trick!

Click here to see step by step instructions to mystery braid a single piece of leather.

Retro Yarn Octopus

This was a fun project my daughter and I did together one day.

All you need to make this cute retro yarn octopus is:

• Scissors
• Skein of yarn about 100 yards long
• 3-inch Styrofoam ball or a tennis ball
• 5 feet of yarn or ribbon, for tying the braids (we used rubber bands)
• Tacky glue
• Large googly eyes (we used white and black felt)

Grab another person to help and head over to this website for the instructions.

Have fun.

Easy Fabric Pumpkins

My mother and I have been making these fabric pumpkins for a few years now, but this year my six year old daughter was old enough to help me sew some too!  I just love crafting with my daughter, she's just like me!

Materials needed:

Orange and brown fabric in different sized rectangles

Sewing machine or needle and thread

Orange embroidery floss

Artificial fall leaves and berries

Raffia

Cinnamon sticks

Hot glue gun and glue
Stuffing

We started with a large rectangle of fabric, then folded it with right sides together.

Step 1. Stitch one side on a sewing machine to make an inside out tube like my daughter is holding in the picture.

Step 2.  Using a needle and thread, sew a running stitch along one end. Pull both ends of your thread to cinch up the material and turn it right side out.

Step 3.  Using the embroidery floss, sew another running stitch, this time around the whole top of your material.  Before cinching it closed, stuff the pumpkin.

Step 4.  Pull both ends of the embroidery floss to close up the top of your pumpkin and tie it off.

Step 5.  Using orange floss, make six sections on your pumpkins by wrapping it around the pumpkin and knotting it each time.

Step 6.  Hot glue a twig or cinnamon stick into the top and decorate with leaves, berries and raffia.

These are some smaller pumpkins I made with my daughter's class at school.

We started with a round piece of material about the size of a dinner plate.

The kids sewed around the edge of the circle and pulled it tight, stuffed the pumpkin and glued the stick and leaf to the top.

Witch Doctor Halloween Mask

My husband came home one night from work with a white plastic mask and said there was a mask decorating contest in his office... 

If you know me, you'd know that I couldn't let this one pass me by. 

So, I collected some twigs from our backyard that had fallen from our redwood trees, gathered up some Indian corn and some raffia and heated up the hot glue gun.

What do you think?

By the way... I won!

This is what I started with

Best Ever Popcorn Balls

These are a fun fall treat for a group of kids! (ok, I admit, I ate one too)

5 quarts popped popcorn

3/4 cup light corn syrup

1/4 cup margarine

2 teaspoons cold water

2 5/8 cups confectioners' sugar

1 cup marshmallows

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the corn syrup, margarine, cold water, confectioners' sugar and marshmallows. 
 
2. Heat and stir until the mixture comes to a boil.
 
3. Carefully combine the hot mixture with the popcorn, coating each kernel.
 
4. Grease hands with vegetable shortening or oil and quickly shape the coated popcorn into balls.

Citronella Candle in a Coconut Shell

We love to eat dinner outside when the weather is nice, but unfortunately the flies make it un-enjoyable certain times of the year.  We have to keep a citronella candle lit on our table and when we burn them down to nothing, its easy to make another one!

Here's what you'll need:

Large aluminum can with the label removed to melt your wax

Large pot of boiling water

Large chunk of basic household or candle wax

Cheese grater

Candle wicks with wire (the kind with the little metal circle on one end)

Coconut shell or glass jar (or anything really)

Citronella oil

Glue

Gather your materials together and grate the wax into the aluminum can.

Boil water in a large pot and carefully place the wax can in the pot of water to melt.  Keep stirring the wax to help it melt.

Meanwhile glue the wick inside the coconut shell.

Once the wax is all melted, add a generous amount of citronella oil and stir again.  Carefully pour the melted wax into your coconut shell or jar.

Let it sit undisturbed a couple of hours until it is completely set.

That's it!  A cute citronella candle for our picnic table!

Maple Cinnamon Frosting

I am so glad I found this AMAZING frosting, it is soooooo good! I followed this recipe for the frosting. The link also includes directions for cider and donut cupcakes. I didn't have time to make these to go with the maple cinnamon frosting, so I used a yellow cake mix, followed the directions on the box, but used apple juice instead of the water it called for.

I think the end product was very tasty. I decorated the cupcakes with yellow sprinkles and a small touch of nutmeg. Perfect for a fall birthday (like our family had) or a harvest party!

Grandma's Old Hutch

Just a peek inside my kitchen... I've just finished painting my Grandmother's old hutch to try to update it and make it match a little better in my home.

 

Grandma's old maple hutch before.

Old hutch updated!

And for Halloween... some scaaarrrry silhouettes on my white plates.

All it took was some black paint and some new pulls to bring my grandmother's maple hutch from the 1950's into this century.  Now it matches my kitchen table!

Painted Rock Pumpkins

This is a really easy, cute way to decorate your front porch for Halloween without your jack-o-lanterns rotting before the day arrives!

First we found some large river rocks and the kids painted them orange.
Then I hot glued some cinnamon sticks onto the tops.

Lastly, we painted the faces and some lines to make them look more realistic.

Now you make some!

Fall Leaf Stained Glass

I helped the kids make this beautiful craft this morning after we took a walk to collect some fall leaves.

First we decided on a pattern for the leaves.  Next, we cut a large square of clear contact paper and layed it sticky side up, then pressed each leaf onto the sticky paper.  Then we cut another square and enclosed our leaves inside the two sheets. 

We made a frame for it out of construction paper and hung it in a sunny window.  Isn't it pretty?  I love fall.

Eggplant Hummus

Eggplant Hummus is easy to make and so delicious!

Ingredients:

1 large eggplant, 1 clove garlic, 1/4 teaspoon Salt, 2 Tablespoons Tahini, 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice

Directions:

~ Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees

~Slice eggplant into 1/2 inch pieces

~Lay on a foil covered cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes

~Scoop insides out and place into a food processor (or blender)

(I used the side of a spoon to cut along side of the peel. Be careful, it's hot!)

~Dice garlic up as small as you can (put into a separate small bowl)

~Add salt, Tahini, and Lemon Juice to the garlic, stir well.

~Add the Garlic mixture to your food processor, and blend until smooth

You may want to add more salt, lemon juice or tahini to taste.

Serve with Pita chips.

ENJOY!!!

A Sweet gift for a new Teacher~

I'm so excited to learn S'more!

School is approaching quickly for us, and when I came across this cute gift idea for my children's new teachers, I thought it would be perfect. I found it on I Share Everything on facebook. This is a great place for printables, craft ideas and more, so head on over there and 'like' her page on facebook! Here is the adorable (free) printable package topper.

Homemade Zucchini Bread

This recipe came from allrecipes.com, and turned out wonderful. Hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 
  

• Directions

  1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
  2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
  3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
  4. Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Kyah's School Placemat

My daughter Kyah started the first grade today and she was so excited!  Her new teacher requested that the children bring a cloth napkin with their name on it to use as a placemat while eating their lunch.  Well, I didn't want to give up a napkin from one of my sets and why go buy something when I could make it!  Now she has her own custom placemat with her name embroidered on it!

We made the batik a couple of years ago following this fun tutorial.  We had this little scrap left over and used it for the center and the purple corduroy material was from one of her favorite dresses that she has outgrown.  If its good material, we'll use it!

Handmade Tortillas

The other night we were out of flour tortillas for tacos and I didn't want to run to the store.  I made my own from scratch and they were delicious!  Have you ever made tortillas from scratch?  It is easier than I thought.

Handmade Tortillas

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 3/4 cup shortening
• 3/4 cup hot water

Directions

1. Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Either by hand or with a pastry cutter, cut in the shortening till the mixture is crumbly. If the mixture looks more floury than crumbly, be sure to add just one or two more tablespoons of shortening till it is crumbly. Add about 3/4 cup hot water to the mixture, or just enough to make the ingredients look moist.
2. With your hand or a large fork, knead the mixture making sure to rub the dough against the sides of the large mixing bowl to gather any clinging dough. If the dough still sticks to the side of the bowl, add a couple more tablespoons of flour until the dough forms a soft round shape. The dough is ready to roll out now, but it is best to let it rest. Cover it with a dish towel, and let it sit for about an hour or so.
3. Take the dough, and pull it apart into 10 to 12 balls. Lightly flour your rolling area, and roll each ball with a rolling pin to about 1/8 inch thickness.
4. Place each tortilla on a medium hot cast iron skillet. Cook for about 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until the tortilla does not look doughy.         

Triple Layer Cookie Bars

I got this recipe from the label on the condensed milk can and I was surprised at how good they were.  Next time I think I'll add chopped walnuts to the top.

Triple Layer Cookie Bars

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1 (7 ounce) package flaked coconut
• 1 (14 ounce) can Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 1 (12 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees F for glass dish). In small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter; mix well. Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of 13x9-inch baking pan. Top evenly with coconut then pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over coconut layer.
2. Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned.
3. In small saucepan, over low heat, melt chocolate chips with peanut butter. Spread evenly over hot coconut layer.
4. Cool 30 minutes. Chill thoroughly. Cut into bars. Garnish as desired. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

Grandma's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

If you love Strawberry Rhubarb pie, this is a really great recipe.  If you don't love it, you will after trying this recipe!  Click here to go to the original recipe.

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional flour as needed, up to 1/4 cup
• 1/2 cup cake flour (recommended: Soft As Silk)
• 3 teaspoons sifted powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup butter-flavored shortening (recommended: Crisco)
• 1/4 cup salted butter
• Pinch salt
• 1 egg
• 2 teaspoons vinegar
• 1/4 cup ice cold water

Filling:

• 2 1/2 cups chopped red rhubarb, (fresh is better but I could only find frozen pieces)
• 2 1/2 cups de-stemmed, washed and cut strawberries (in larger pieces)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar (1 1/4 cups for high altitude)
• 2 tablespoons minute tapioca
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons butter, cubed small
• 1 egg white beaten with 1 teaspoon water
• Large granule sugar

Directions

Crust Preparation:

Using 2 pastry blenders, blend the flours, sugar, shortening, butter and salt. Whisk the egg, vinegar and water in a 2-cup measure and pour over the dry ingredients incorporating all the liquid without overworking the dough. Toss the additional flour over the ball of dough and chill if possible. Divide the dough into 2 disks. Roll out 1 piece of dough to make a bottom crust. Place into a pie dish. Put dish in refrigerator to chill.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

 

Filling Preparation: 

Mix the rhubarb, strawberries, sugar, tapioca, flour, zest and juice of lemon, dash of cinnamon, and vanilla. Mix well in a large bowl and pour out into chilled crust. Dot the top of the filling with the butter. Brush edges of pie crust with egg white wash. Roll out the other piece of dough and place over filling. Crimp to seal edges. Brush with egg white wash and garnish with large granule sugar. Collar with foil and bake at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes. Decrease temperature to 375 degrees F and bake for an additional 45 to 50 minutes, or until the filling starts bubbling. Higher altitude will take 450 degrees F and 400 degrees F respectively. Also, you can use a pie bird for extra decor. Let cool before serving.

My old skirt = a new dress for my daughter

This dress is so cute, and it was easy to make!

I have finally come to terms with the fact that, after having three children, I will never be a size 2 again.   So... instead of tossing out one of my favorite skirts... I turned it into a dress for my six year old!

I just turned it inside out and cut off the zipper. 

I then sewed it back together where the zipper was and sewed a hem along the top of the dress. 

Before finishing the hem, I slipped in some one inch thick elastic and stitched it to itself. 

Lastly I just made some straps from some thick grosgrain ribbon and two buttons.

That it!  See, I told you it was easy!

Smores Cone!

One of my favorite blogs that I read made these treats in a mini version, since I didn't have any of the right ingredients in mini version we used what we had!

Her version is here. We used normal sized cones, two sections of a Hershys bar (chopped up) and EXTRA LARGE marshmallows :)

Just fill the bottom half of the cone with the chocolate pieces and then stick the marshmallow on top. Place in a broiler oven for 1-2 minutes (keep an eye on this part) And then let cool for a couple of minutes.

My son said this was one of his most favorite desserts ever!

Here he is in shock at how good it was, and showing the yummy chocolate part in the end!

Hope you enjoy this fun summer treat as much as we did!

Homegrown Sunburst Squash

Here is another way to prepare Sunburst or Pattypan squash.

The ones pictured here are from our garden and might have crossed with our zucchini, but they are sure delicious!

Stuffed Sunburst Squash

• 4 medium Pattypan Squash
• 2 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
• 1 tablespoon Olive Oil (extra-virgin is best)
• 1 clove minced Garlic
• 1 teaspoon Soy Sauce
• 1 bunch Fresh Spinach, washed and finely chopped
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1 dash Cayenne Pepper (optional)
• 1 large Egg, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup grated Swiss Cheese (or Gruyère Cheese for more flavor)

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Fill a large pot 3/4 full of water and bring to a boil.
3. Place squash in boiling water and boil for 5 minutes.
4. Drain the water and allow squash to cool.
5. Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each squash so that they will stand on their own.
6. Cut about 1/2 inch from the tops of each squash and remove the insides to hollow the squash. Set squash insides aside.
7. Melt butter and oil in a skillet over medium heat.
8. Add garlic and sauté until soft.
9. Add the spinach and soy sauce and sauté until the spinach is tender and the liquid has mostly evaporated.
10. Move the spinach mixture to a bowl and allow to partially cool.
11. Season with salt, pepper, and optional cayenne pepper to taste.
12. Stir in the egg and 1/2 cup of the swiss or Gruyere cheese. Mix well.
13. Add a small amount of the squash insides and discard the rest of the insides.
14. Spoon the spinach/cheese mixture into the squash shells.
15. Place the stuffed squash in a single layer in a baking dish.
16. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
17. Pour hot water into the pan to fill about 1/2 inch.
18. Bake for approximately 30 minutes or the squash is tender and the filling is no longer runny.

Or try this recipe:

Baked stuffed pattypan squash

• 4 Pattypan Squash, washed
• 1 Onion, chopped
• 1/2 lb. lean sausage, chopped
• 3/4 cup Parsley, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups Bread Crumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon Pepper
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

  1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2.  Cut squash in half (horizontally) and hollow.
  3.  Chop onion finely.
  4.  Crumble the sausage into a pan and cook until no longer pink.
  5.  Remove sausage from pan and set aside.
  6.  Add onion to the pan with sausage fat and cook about 2 minutes or until soft.
  7.  Mix together in a bowl the sausage, onion, parsley, bread crumbs, pepper and 2 tablespoons water.
  8.  Divide mixture among squash halves.
  9.  Brush the tops of the stuffed squash with olive oil.
10.  Place squash in single layer in baking dish just large enough to hold all of the squash.
11.  Fill baking dish with 1/2 inch water.
12.  Cover and bake 30 minutes.
12.  Uncover and continue baking about 15 minutes or until stuffing is browned and squash is tender.

Pirate Birthday Party!

My son Oliver is turning 3 soon and we are planning a pirate birthday party in our backyard.  He has been into pirates ever since we took him to Disneyland last spring and he rode the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  Although he has never seen the movie, he knows all the characters and a pirate themed party was what he wanted!  I bought Disney's Ultimate Swashbuckler Collection from iTunes for some pirate background music to play outside while everyone is swimming and party-ing it up.  I was planning on making my sister's pirate hat cake you can see here. 
Also, here are a few things I made for his party:

A treasure map invitation

The invitation reads: 

Avast Ye Scallywags!
Hoist yer anchors and set sail to celebrate
Captain Oliver's third birthday.
Chart yer course for (our address)
on the twenty fourth of July at two o'clock or walk the plank!
Come dressed to swim unless ye are a Landlubber!
Arrrrrr... ye coming to the party?  (our phone number)

I drew the map and compass and found a scripty font for the words.
I printed the invitations on parchment paper and cut rough edges with scissors to look like it was torn.

Pirate Flag

What pirate party would be complete without a pirate flag!  I lucked out and found half a yard of black felt in the clearance bin at our local fabric store for $2!  I then got some white sticky-back felt in white.  I then found a skull and crossbones picture online that I used as my inspiration.  I followed This tutorial (well sort of) to make the flag.  I sewed a thin pocket in one side so that I could slide in a wooden dowel.  This was so easy to make, and could have been done with no sewing at all.

Pirate Photo Board

 Just for fun, I found a large piece of cardboard and painted this pirate on it.  My kids have had so much fun playing with it already!  I had to put a chair behind it for the little one to put his face in.

Arrrrr!

Captain Oliver on his big day!

I also bought this shirt for the birthday boy and drew the skull and crossbones on the pocket with a bleach pen.  Can't wait to do more bleach pen crafts, this one was fun!

Enchiladas~

These are very simple to make, I use ground beef, but feel free to use shredded beef or chicken.

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb. of ground beef

2. About 2 cups of shredded cheese (more or less depending on what you like)

3. 2 cans of HATCH enchilada sauce

4. 8 Tortillas

Cook up the meat

Spread a spoonful of sauce down the center of a tortilla, then top with two spoonfuls of meat and a sprinkle of cheese.

Roll up the tortilla keeping the ends open and place in baking pan. (I spread about 1/4 cup of enchilada sauce in the bottom of the pan first)

Our FAVORITE brand is HATCH, I feel like it has the best flavor, and makes this dish the best it can be!! I buy this brand at Target.

Last, spread plenty of the sauce onto the rolled tortillas making sure you cover all of the edges, then sprinkle with the remaining cheese.

Bake in a 325° preheated oven for about 15 -20 minutes, and... voila! Delicious, and very easy homemade enchiladas!