One of our family traditions that bring smiles and excitement to our kids year after year is the night we read, The Legend of the Candy Cane. We open up our "matching" pajamas, run to the tree and select a candy cane off a branch. Then to the table we go for home made hot coco, topped with whip cream and marshmallows. With candy canes in hand, we stir our hot coco creating a yummy peppermint coco. As we stir and sip we listen as daddy reads to us the meaning of the candy cane. "J" for Jesus, the red stripe the blood shed for us and the white stripe symbolizing the washing away our sins leaving us white as snow.
I cherish our tradition as I think back over Christmases past, remembering the joy and love we share as a family. Family traditions help create long lasting memories. Memories that bring up feelings of joy, love, meaning and belonging.
I hope that in this busy season of Christmas you too are stopping and taking time with your loved ones and creating memories of peace, joy and love.
Merry Christmas
Gobble! Gobble! Is exactly what will happen to these cute, full of personality and delicious Turkey cake pops!
Here is what you will need:
Cake Mix
Frosting
Mini Marshmallows cut in 1/3 for the eyes
Candy Corn for feathers and beak
Red Starburst Candy softened in the microwave
Round sprinkles for the eyeballs
Lollipop sticks
Bark Coating Chocolate or Candy Melts
Wax Paper
Styrofoam
Google Cake Pops and you will find many great tutorials already exist on the "how to" of making Cake Pops. I used the method from Instructables which I believe is a Bakerella original.
Turkeys take shape...
After making cake balls, I pulled and formed the head from the cake ball. Once covered in chocolate I placed all the Turkey "parts" where they belonged. If the chocolate dries before you are able to place things on, use a dab of chocolate like glue. For the beak, cut the candy corn length wise. Break off the yellow end and white tip leaving you with an orange beak. The red Starburst candy needs to be softened in the microwave, flattened and cut into strips. I then twisted it. The whites of the eyes are Marshmallows divided in 1/3. I then stuck a single sprinkle in the middle. I used both blue and green, to add to the different personalities my Turkeys were taking on.
Maintenance Monday is something new we are trying out around our Created Home. So far I am loving this simple addition to my kids regular daily chores. With a family of seven my daily upkeep of our home just keeps increasing. It dawned on me, along with the work increase so is the age increase of my kids. Translation... they are capable of doing more to help out. Oh happy day!
I am using my classroom chalkboard to write the job for each child. Each Monday may have different maintenance needs, so a chalkboard works out great.
Even my three year old gets in on the fun. She often comes to me during the week and asks me if she can feather dust. Oh and another fun dusting tip for little hands. Use an old sock. They simply place it on their hand and wipe away. You can let them decorate the top of the sock to make it even more fun.
When I set out to figure out how to make a grab button, I had a pretty good idea it was not going to be simple. After some searching I found this adorable blog The Little Hen House who I feel had the easiest "how to" tutorial out there. There is just one thing I will add. This will make more sense once you read the tutorial.
If you copy and paste the HTML code provided in the tutorial (she gives both codes for Wordpress and Blogger) then you need to, very carefully delete and then retype all the light colored " quotation marks. If you miss even one quotation mark it keeps the process from working. (Not that I know from experience ;>)
For me the trouble I ran into was everything looked like it worked on my page. Meaning the picture showed up as well as the HTML code box, but when I tested it, the process was incomplete. For anyone else to grab my button it would not show up on their page. Yet the button was on my page looking like it would work. Through much trial and error I figured out about the " quotation marks. My only experience is in Blogger so I do not know if the same is true for Wordpress. Also make sure for your Gadget you add the Text box and not the HTML/ Java Script option.
You could just type out the whole code and not copy and paste if you please. You just have to make sure everything is exact or else you have to start again.
So thank you very, very much to The Little Hen House for putting together such a wonderful, easy to follow tutorial! Much appreciated!
Mod Podge + ribbon = a little something extra!
This peg hook couldn't be easier. Paint the hook the color of your choosing and then Mod Podge on the ribbon you choose. First paint the Mod Podge onto the wood, stick the ribbon on and paint the Mod Podge over the whole peg hook in nice even strokes.
I suggest spraying or painting the peg hook with a sealant if used for wet towels.
Okay are you ready for something delicious? A fast and super easy dinner that will have you going back for seconds. A recipe that you will keep in your rotation of, "what's for dinner?" It is that good. Do I have your taste buds watering with curiosity?
Blue Cheese and Honey Crisp Apple Salad:
Blue Cheese Crumbles Iceberg Lettuce Honey Crisp Apples Chopped Nuts (almonds, peanuts and or pecans) Blue Cheese Dressing
Bread Crumb Topped Sausage Two Cheese Pasta:
Tube Pasta Block Cream Cheese (softened) 1 Can of Campbell's Cheddar Cheese Soup 1/2 Yellow Onion Chopped Jimmy Dean Sausage Regular 1/2 Stick of Butter 1 Cup Bread Crumbs Pepper
Brown the sausage, half way through add the onion. In a mixing bowl, mix the milk, cream cheese, cheddar cheese soup and pepper to taste. Add the pasta and meat to the cheese mixture. In a small mixing bowl add the bread crumbs and melted butter, mix. Put the pasta in a baking dish and top with the bread crumbs. Bake at 350degrees for about 20 minuets.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is a wonderful comfort on a cold fall day. Here is a version I came up with and it is mmm mmm good! You can get as creative as you want. Switch up the noodles or veggies. Add garlic, the options are up to you.
Ingredients:
Chicken skinless boneless breasts or tenderloins
Pasta
Carrots chopped
Celery chopped
Onion chopped
Corn
Cauliflower chopped
Salt
Pepper
Parsley (dried)
Thyme (dried)
Basil (dried)
Chicken Stock/ Broth (amount depends on the serving size you desire. For a whole package of pasta you will need at least 12 cups for soup pot and 2c. for baking the chicken) Canned or bullion cubes.
McCormick Grill Mates Seasoning- Onion & Garlic
What to do:
Lay chicken breasts on a foil lined cookie sheet. Pour 2 cups of broth over the chicken. Season chicken with McCormick seasoning, salt and pepper. Cover tray with foil and bake 375degrees for about 40 minuets (for tenderloins if frozen). While the chicken is baking it is the perfect time to get your veggies chopped and cooking in a big soup pot of broth. Add the herbs, salt and pepper (amount you prefer) to the soup pot of veggies and stock. Once the veggies are tender add your pasta. Chop your chicken into cubes. Add the chicken, simmer (careful not to overcook your noodles) and serve.
