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!

Paper Roses

We made these paper roses for our teacher appreciation day at school this year, but these cuties could be made and given to friends or family you may be visiting this summer. They are cute by themselves or in a bouquet. We put these in a little baby food jar for a few days, and really enjoyed them!!

You will need:

~Square paper (your choice of color) the size of square paper determines the size of the rose. we used about an 8x8 size then rounded the corners...

(We used magazine pages in shades of red, pink, and orange, I really like how they turned out using something recycled!)

~Popcicle sticks

~Glue (craft glue or hot glue)

I found this simple tutorial which will show you how beautiful these can get, and teach you the steps.

To personalize your rose, you can write a short sweet note on the front (or back) of the popcicle stick. Or add a little strip of magnet to the back. Its sure to bring a smile to someones face!

Twin Dolls

My little girl was invited to her best friend's birthday party in another city.  So she came up with the idea to make twin dolls, one for her friend's present and one to keep!  Now they will think of eachother everytime they see their doll.

So my mom had an old (and I mean old) pattern for a Raggedy Ann doll that I used, I just embroidered a different face and sewed on different hair. 

If you want to know a really great way to sew yarn hair on a cloth doll, click HERE.

I used two different coordinating fabrics for their clothes.  One had the green dress and blue apron and bloomers and the other had the blue dress and green apron and bloomers.  The clothes turned out so cute!  My daughter chose the faces she liked from some different choices I drew.  She stuffed the doll for her friend and felt like she really helped make them.  She says they were stuffed with love!

They love their new dolls!

Superhero Cape

My two year old LOVES super heros, particularly Superman!  So of course I had to make him his trusty cape that has now become an everyday part of his wardrobe.

To be honest with you, I made this cape quite a while ago and didn't take any pictures along the way to show you how to do it, and, I really just made it up as I went along.

So, I have found some instructions HERE for a really great superhero cape with a velcro closure like mine.  (the velcro is good for easy opening in case the cape is pulled, no choking!)

Every kid needs a cape.