Week 12 - Thin Mint Truffles!! :)

This was one of the easiest and yummiest party treats I have ever made!  I was having a Scentsy party on St. Patrick's day, so I wanted to coordinate all my food to have a green theme, so I made cream cheese with green pepper jelly, cucumber sandwiches, green sprinkle dipped marshmallows, and thin mint truffles.  This pin on pinterest led me to the blog Cookin' Cowgirl. 

The directions are pretty easy, and I was also able to try out my new Cuisinart!  I put the entire box of Thin Mints into the bowl and ran the blade until they were crumbs.  I then switched the blade to the dough blade (leaving the crumbs in) added the cream cheese and ran it again.  I had to stop and start it to push the crumbs back to the middle with the spatula as it would gather up on the sides to where the blade couldn't reach it, but after a few times it all came together into one well blended glob of cream cheese-thin mint yumminess. 

I took out the lump of thin mint and put in on a plate and began breaking off small sections and rolling them into balls and put them on a parchment covered cookie sheet to go into the freezer.

I let them go a little longer than the 30 minutes b/c I was prepping other things.  I pulled them out and melted some white chocolate into a microwave safe bowl then put green food coloring in for the color.  I didn't get a chance to go to World Market for the mint chips and they did not have them at Walmart, Target, or Kroger (bummer!).  I had to figure out the perfect way to coat them.  When I tried with just my hands, I always had on spot that did cover.  I figured out a method using a fork and a spoon (turning it in the chocolate with both then using the spoon to scoop it out and the fork to steady it). 

I then put them back into the fridge until party time since they cannot be left out due to containing cream cheese.

They were quite a hit at the party, and there was not one left over!

I would definitely make these again!  I don't even have to wait until next girl scout season b/c the author of the blog said you can also make them with Keebler's grasshopper cookies.  :)  I would try to do the mint chips next time b/c I would bet that adds even more flavor.  The white chocolate was still pretty good though!  I would also take a tip that I read on  making cake balls the other night, taking only a few truffles out of the freezer at a time to dip, so you can keep the rest cold and easy to dip as well.

These would be perfect for any spring party, Easter celebration, or just because! :)



Week 11 - Bonus Post!! :)

Ok, so I tried a couple new recipes that I had to share with everyone, so there is a bonus post this week!  The first is one that I posted a picture about this morning that got a little buzz on my facebook page.  I decided to make a special breakfast, since my husband took off today to have a family day while our son is on spring break.  I looked up the recipe for the cinnamon sugar pull apart muffins on Pinterest, since we are all fans of cinnamon rolls.  I got up a little earlier this morning to put it together, and it was well worth it!  While it took a little longer than I thought to put together, I am betting the next time will go a little quicker having one try under my belt.  I had to make some adjustments to the recipe found on Wendy See Wendy Do.  When I went to make the muffins this morning, I found that I was out of nutmeg, so that was eliminated, but I figured that it wouldn't be a big deal.  I also had to use a mini muffin pan as I do not have a regular muffin pan.  Despite the adjustments I had to make, they were still delicious!  Instead of layering them in stacks of 5-6, I layered them in stacks of 4 to fit in the smaller muffin pan.  I think I liked having the smaller pan thought b/c it made more in quantity and the smaller size was perfect for my kiddos!  The smaller size would also make it a perfect finger food for parties or brunches. :)  The only change I would make for next time is doubling the recipe.  They disappeared quickly!!!

The other recipe I tried out this week was a ground chicken gumbo.  I stumbled upon this on the All Recipes site while looking for something to do with the ground chicken I bought from Sprouts a couple weeks ago.  I will definitely do this one again!  I left out the celery this time as my crew, including me, doesn't really like celery.  I think I will try it next time though.  Instead of dicing the green pepper and onion, I blended it down to more of a smooth, almost puree-like texture.  I do this with most recipes when dealing with these ingredients b/c if I don't they will end up on the side of my hubby's, son's, and daughter's plates.  I through everything else together according to the directions, but I did add a little more chopped okra that what was called for (~1 and 3/4 cup) b/c I love okra and so do my kids!  I heated up the leftovers tonight, and it was as good, if not better than the first night!  It has been a yummy week here!

Week 11 - Peach Vanilla Bean Bundt Cake

I have been trying to get some non-chocolate sweets recently, as my 7 year old gave up chocolate for Lent.  That's a pretty big commitment for a kid!  He is doing really well with it and remembering when his Dad and I forget.  I wanted to support him by offering sweet options that don't include chocolate.  I found this Peach Vanilla Bean Bundt Cake on pinterest that looked delicious!  The pin led me to the blog Week of Menus.  You can find the complete recipe by clicking on the link. 
I was tempted to buy canned peaches to dice and peach baby food for the strained peaches, but I opted to go with fresh.  It's not quite peach season, so it was slim pickings at the grocery store.  I found 5, what I thought were, decent peaches.  Once I got home I got started.  I love making bundt cakes.  I am not sure exactly why, but I think that part of it is how nice they look coming out of the pan, needing little to no decoration.  It's that simple elegance without the hard work! :)
The batter was pretty standard and straight forward. I have to say that I used vanilla extract instead of the vanilla bean.  The only vanilla bean I could find at my grocery store was going to cost $7, so I opted out of that.  I used 2 tsp of vanilla for the flavor. I got it all mixed up and poured into my greased and floured baking pan.  I love the Pam spray for baking.  It shoots out the oil and flour in one making it so easy!  It also smells really yummy, like you are already baking the cake!  I poured in the first layer of cake.

I then added my layer of peaches.  The recipe calls for 1 and 1/2 cups, but when I poured my peaches in, it didn't seems like enough, so I diced up another 1/2 cup of peaches to go in, then I poured on the top layer.

I did leave the skin on.  I figured it wouldn't hurt, and I had already diced up some of the peaches by the time I realized it.  I don't feel like it changed the cake, and it saved some time! :)
I put it in the oven and set the timer for 50 minutes at first.  The tester didn't come out quite clean, so I left it in to closer to 60 minutes.  Then let it cool in the pan for a little while.  I took it out of the pan to cool, and it was a little brown on top with some bubbles, but otherwise looked pretty good.

I was going to make the syrup to drizzle on top of the cake, but when I cut into the last peach to make the strained peach, it was no good.  Bummer!
I cut into the cake to get a slice for the kids and myself to taste test.  The cake looked great with the layer of peaches!

Since we didn't have the syrup on top, I decided to heat the pieces in the microwave for about 10 seconds (didn't need long as it was still a little warm from baking) and put a scoop of vanilla ice on top.  YUMMY!! 

The kids and I both ate it up pretty quickly.  I would like to try the syrup next time, but this cake doesn't have to have it to be delicious!  Definitely recommend this one.  Perfect for a spring brunch or just because.  I think I will have to make this one for a dessert auction we will be having at church. 

Week 10 - Easter Egg Tree

This project was another learning experience for me, but in the end it turned out really cute!  I chose to try out the Easter Egg tree that I saw on pinterest that linked me to the blog, Sweet Floweret.  This seemed easy enough, so I went to Walmart to get the floral foam cone, eggs, and Easter grass.  I decided I would try to use some craft glue that I had at home since I did not have a hot glue gun.  I thought it would be fine, so I started to glue small spots onto the eggs then attach it to the cone.

The glue was not drying quickly, and the eggs were sliding around a little bit, so I had to prop them as I kept gluing.  I made it around the first layer and... they all fell.

I thought about some sticky dots that I had tat have worked well with other crafts including fabric.  I tried sticking some on the same spot as I had applied the glue. 

It did not work with just the dot, so I put some glue around it.  I got the rest of the way around the tree and decided to wait until the morning to put the grass in, so the glue would have a chance to completely dry.

I went off to watch a show with my husband, and half-way through I heard a plastic "clink" on the table.  I told my husband I didn't even want to look since I knew what was happening.  We started to laugh after a couple more "clinks."  I still didn't check.  I thought I would just fix whatever fell in the morning.  This is what I walked into the next morning.

That was a lot of fixing.  Instead of repeating the same mistake, I decided to go a buy a glue gun.  I have learned to use the proper materials and not try and substitute other things.  I also learned that craft glue will not glue plastic to foam. :)
After purchasing a glue gun I tried again.  It's amazing how much easier and faster it is when you have the right materials!  

Woo-hoo!  No plastic "clinks" after the fact too.  After making sure the eggs were secure, I stuck the grass in between.  I would pull the grass apart (it was clumped up in the bag) then I would bunch it and stick it in between the eggs.  I would try and stretch it out so that it would be secure.  It was pretty easy to do.

Ta-dah!  The finished product!!

Overall this was a pretty easy project, especially once I got the glue gun!  It took about 45 min start to finish. 

Week 9 - 29 day Organization Challenge

So this pin that I found I have been working on all month!  I have seen The Organizational Junkie website (http://www.orgjunkie.com/)  before, but the pin on pinterest drew my attention.  It showed a 29 day Organization Challenge.   I was motivated!  I dove in and checked it out.  In order to participate in the competition, you had to start a blog about it, so I did...secretly.  I didn't post about it b/c who likes to show everyone their dirty laundry, or otherwise known as clutter in my case.  The challenge finished yesterday, and I am proud to say that I did it!  I chose the garage, not really knowing what an undertaking it would be.  Despite some challenges along the way, it looks great!  So now being able to show the after pictures, I am feeling better about showing the before.  For those who know me, it really would not come as a surprise that my garage would be cluttered.  Have you seen my house? ;)  Well here's the link to the blog that I set up for the challenge. 
Mission Organization

If you read through the blog you will also notice that I took another idea from pinterest.  I saw an idea to mount a flashlight by the circuit box.  I took that and changed it to the pegboard by the door to the garage so I can make my way to the circuit box if needed without tripping over things in the dark along the way.  :) 

Feel free to follow the other blog as well.  I will be trying to get a new organization project each month (probably none as big as this one though).  You can follow along on my mission to be a more organized person! :)

Week 8 - Ruffled Tier Skirt

Sorry about the delay!  I am a couple weeks behind on posting, but I am still crafting! :)  On week 8, i decided to try my hand at making my daughter a ruffled skirt.  Now I have only made one other sewing project from a pattern and that was a pillowcase dress, which is pretty hard to mess up.  The measurements on this one had to be a little more exact and I had to create a waistband.  I took it on excited about learning how to ruffle as well!  I know that I can buy a ruffling foot for my machine, but that costs some $$, and if I can do it with what I have, that will work! 

I took the pattern from this pin on pinterest which led me to the blog, Craftiness is not Optional (http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2012/02/l-o-v-e-tee-and-easy-tiered-skirt.html).

Cute blog with pretty easy to follow instructions.  I cut my fabric to the to my calculations per the directions on the blog.

Now looking back at just these measurements, I can see why this skirt wasn't as cute as I thought it would be.  I didn't get enough length on my middle fabric.  A couple more inches on the cupcake fabric would have led to a probable success on this one.  Oh well! :)

Not realizing my mistake, I went ahead sewing the skirt.  I did a zig-zag around the top and bottom edges since I do not have a serger.  I ironed up a hem on the bottom layer of the skirt and zig-zag stitched to secure it.  After this I sewed a long single stitch on a tension of 5 across the top of the bottom and middle layer. This will create your ruffle! :)  I was able to pull one side of the thread to ruffle the fabric.  It took a little time to figure out just how to get the fabric to bunch, and it's hard to explain, but one I got it, I was able to ruffle it pretty quickly.  She probably does a better job of explaining this process on her website. 

I then tied my strings to the string on the other layer of fabric to complete the full circle of that layer and zig-zag stitched them together wrong sides out.  I did this to both the bottom and middle layers.  I then took the middle layer and turned it inside out and put the top of the bottom layer inside of that to pin together to sew together wrong side out.

I ran this through on a zig-zag stitch to connect together.

Looks cute so far right?  Well attaching the top layer is where I went, "huh?"  I prepped the top layer by ironing the top over to create a space for the waistband to go into.  I threaded the elastic through using a paper clip that pierced the elastic and a pin to grab it and pull through.  I really should get some safety pins!  That would have made that process a little easier.  Oh well! I got it through and sewed it together.  I then attached the top layer to the middle using the same method as before.  It was at that moment that I though, "This doesn't look right."

Where it was supposed to tier out it was almost gathered tight.  I had my daughter try it on, and she was excited at first, but then decided that she didn't like "lumpy" skirts.  I had to laugh b/c she pretty much hit it on the head. :)  The tightness of the skirt on the middle created a bubble on the top part. LOL! 
I am going to try this again with some changes.  I will DOUBLE check my math this time.  I am thinking it was user error and not the fault of the pattern as I look back.  I would also tighten the waistband about an inch tighter.  It said to add an inch to your child's waist size, but for my daughter the waist was a little big, so I think I will keep it exact next time.  I will post an update with a hopefully better looking skirt! :)