Pepper Paints

Spider Web Snacks

We seem to be having an extra busy Halloween season around here this year. We have had to bring something to share to several events already with yet a few more to come. I brought  The Perfect Pumpkin Cake I shared the other day to a potluck but decided to make something more festive for a couple of other Halloween parties we were attending…Spider Web Snacks.

Now as much as I would like to say this was my great idea..I found it on Pinterest. I have said it before, I LOVE PINTEREST!! And I will say it again, I LOVE PINTEREST!!  As a visual person, this site takes the cake!

These were easy to make and called for only a few ingredients. You just need a little time and space.  And having a little helper around really helps!!

First arrange pretzel sticks into a star pattern on a lined cookie sheet or large tray

Next melt some chocolate (white or dark)

Now pour that melted chocolate into a plastic baggie and cut a tiny bit of the tip off. This makes it so much easier to make webs around the pretzels. Be sure to drizzle the points in the middle together really well and make sure to hit each stick on your way around the web!

Next we tried putting 2 raisins into the center of melted chocolate for spider bodies. Then we covered the raisins with more melted chocolate and made some legs.

And after about 4 or 5 of these my helper quit on me! So I was on my own. I decided to simplify– but I must say I like my version better!! I skipped the spider in the center and just shook some Halloween sprinkles into the melted chocolate. Ta da…

Just the right combination of salty and sweet. These were a big hit with both kids and adults alike!

Thursday’s Recipe Fail = Friday’s Kitchen Gadget Update

My Mom bought me this super shiny, huge pot for Christmas…ahh my love for kitchen gadgets and accessories continues….

I don’t usually just link or post  a recipe on Thursday’s unless I have made it and it is actually worth sharing. This weeks plan was to share a Kale and White Bean soup. I made it but it was nothing worth sharing. So instead I planned to share my new and favorite kitchen gadgets but my poor daughter has been here all week

It is almost 10 am as I write this and she just woke up still sniffling and sneezing. My youngest germ is coughing in bed with her Dad who has been working all week until the wee hours of the morning. It’s been a rough week around here!

So that is why I am just getting around to Thursday’s post…on Friday morning afternoon.

With all the germs flying around the house, this week turned into soup week.  There was the mediocre kale and white bean and the cure all chicken noodle

Everyone has a version of chicken noodle soup. Mine is nothing special but it certainly hits the spot. I added some pea shoots to mine…soup and salad all in one bowl is a favorite of mine! There was also a beef vegetable that I made in my new lead free crock pot.

Yes, you read that correctly. I don’t know how I didn’t know that crock pots typically carry lead in there glaze but apparently they do. I did some googling and found that the Cuisinart brand is lead free as is Vita Clay. Both are expensive. I did a little more digging and found this Supentown Slow Cooker. And even better I found it on the cheap at Home Depot The crock is made of the same zisha, purple clay, that the Vita Clay cookers are made from.  Supentown website writes that it is not only free of chemicals but rich in natural minerals. Someday negative info may come out about this cooker too but I couldn’t find it anywhere for now.

I used my new slow cooker to make beef veg soup and all was good. It is a little bit smaller than my other crock pot but not much. But because the crock is not non stick there was a little sticking. It washed out easily and the soup tasted great. Just be sure when you store any small appliance you do not put the cord inside the pot because the soft pliable coating on the cords do contain lead…so wash your hands after use. I also read that there is lead in the coating of the heating elements in the outer part of slow cookers. I am done researching lead for a while. In other news I hear they are planning to take some of the fluoride out of our drinking water…gee thanks. it’s about time. Don’t breath or drink or eat…chemicals are every where!!! It becomes exhausting. Trying not to get too caught up in all of that!

I do know for sure that this is lead free…it is stainless steel

Also by Supentown and purchased at Home Depot this thermal cooker was way cheaper. I haven’t used it yet but can’t wait!! I have had my eye on these thermal cookers for a while but they are  very expensive and couldn’t really find a difference between the two that warranted the extra cost so we finally went with the cheaper one. I love the idea of making food and taking it with us for later, all the while it is cooking on the move with out being plugged in!!! Can’t get more energy efficient than that!

Take a look inside-a simple design!

I promise to use it soon and let you know how it works.

I love my Olympic juicer…especially for carrot juice

Last but certainly not least one of my favorite kitchen gadgets….I shared my love for this thermos before in my OUT WITH PLASTICS post.  During the winter i fill it it up with hot water so a cup of tea is only minutes away. I LOVE it!! Again no electricity used here!

What is your favorite kitchen gadget?

The Week Between 2010

Our Holiday was wonderful. Mostly because everyone was home and together for three whole days. That doesn’t seem to happen as much as kids get older and husbands work more!

Here are a few highlights of the weekend.

We always go to my Mom’s for Christmas eve. She cooks delicious things and makes everything pretty just for us! This year she surprised Ginger with a karaoke machine! And a Hannah Montana CD…. Oh boy! Does she LOVE it!

Molly asked “how early can we wake you up?” Joe told her 5 AM…guess what time she woke us?

We are pretty good about sticking to the kids lists. Buying them things they want and not as much stuff that I think they should have. Yet there are always a few surprises thrown in. This year I hit a home run with my surprise for Molly!!

Bento boxes for her and Ginger along with a Bento cookbook and all the little tools and treasures. The perfect gift for my little Martha in the making!

It didn’t matter that we just had a huge breakfast, she couldn’t wait to get to work making lunch!

One of our other Christmas traditions is Molly’s Christmas day cake. This year she made a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting from scratch. Look out Cake Boss!

I LOVE the week between Christmas and New Years. I feel like I can breath a sigh of relief and just enjoy. I wrote all about it last year too.

We are anxiously waiting for a friend to arrive in a few hours to stay with us for the week along with a cousin who will also be visiting. We are looking forward to some sledding today before the snow melts, a trip to the movies and the zoo to see holiday lights, sushi and chocolate fondue with friends. It will be a stay-cation around here and I am loving it!! Hope your week between is filled with more holiday joy!

Thursday’s Recipe … A Bread Wreath

The basic dough recipe makes 4 loaves

It is a sweet  and tasty dough

In a large bowl mix the following together:

2 cups luke warm water

1 1/2 T yeast

3 eggs

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup melted butter or oil

Add:

6 cups all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

Cover loosely and let rise about 2 hrs

At this point divide dough into 4 balls—freeze (up to 1 month) or refrigerate (up to 5 days) unused portions

Cloak dough and form a ball. Poke hole in center with thumbs and stretch about an 8 inch circle in center

Place on parchment on cookie sheet, cover loosely about 25 mins.

Heat oven to 350

With scissors, cut slightly angled, horizontal cuts almost all the way through the bread. Spread pieces out. You can brush the top with an egg wash and sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds.

Bake about 35 minutes.

I have three more loaves I turn into tasty bread wreaths —- I might just use them to impress my family and friends with on my Thanksgiving table!!

This was yet another idea/recipe from Family Fun!

Thursday’s Recipe …. Roasted Chickpeas-Now That’s a Healthy Snack!

I cooked up a pot of dry chickpeas and let them cool. I drained them well and even dried them off some. In a large bowl I mixed the chickpeas with some coconut oil, salt and pepper–lots of salt and pepper!

I turned the oven up to 450 and spread the seasoned chickpeas in a single layer onto a cookie sheet.

I roasted them for a long time–stirring them up occasionally. Kind of like making pumpkin seeds–they are wet and take a long time to dry and then roast. You can decide how dry or crunchy you like them. I took them out and tried them but thought they were just dry and not too crunchy. So I put them back in for a little while longer.

Just right! I think these will be a perfect snack for a long car ride!! These definitely need to be accompanied by a nice cold drink!

I am thinking of trying some different seasonings next time—with onions and garlic powder or hot and spicy spike or fresh herbs or even a little cinnamon and sugar…so many possibilities!

Thursday Recipe – Lemon Berry Bars & Perfect No Cook Dinner

I know I usually post a photo to entice you….but I am going to leave you in suspense (or you can scroll down–but you shouldn’t -it will ruin it for you!!)

Lemon Berry Bars

Preheat 350    Grease a 9 inch square pan

For crust

Beat 1 cup softened butter with 1 cup flour, 1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar, 1 T ice water, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon salt. Beat until mixture forms a ball. Put in fridge for 10 minutes

Bake crust until golden and firm about 15 mins  Let cool completely  Reduce the oven temp to 325

Spread 3/4 cup of jam evenly over crust

In a bowl whisk together 6 lg eggs, 2 cups sugar, 3/4 cup lemon juice, 3/4 teaspoon baking powder  Pour over crust. Bake 20-25 mins   Let cool completely

First let me say I a a genius! I was out of powdered sugar so I googled and made my own!! sugar and cornstarch in the mixer = powder sugar!!

And now for the photo…………………………..

I am also a genius because I left it on the stove and my dogs ate it. I bet it was good.

But this is what we are having for dinner AGAIN tonight–too hot to cook and no time for dinner prep once again!!

Hummus and Tabouli  Pita Sandwiches

I usually make my own hummus and tabouli but sometimes I buy it!

I cut up tomatoes, onions and pickles (yes lots of pickles make this soooo tasty!!) and put out sprouts and lettuce. These are usually big and messy and really drippy by the end so we have started wrapping them in foil (and running out the door to eat them in the yard) so it’s almost like we have take out from The Pita Hut!

I would love to hear others no cook, low cook, easy summertime dinner ideas!!

Our Mud Pie Kitchen

While clicking around in the  Summer edition of Rhythm of the Home, I came across this awesome idea!! As soon as I saw the photos  my heart skipped a beat and I started making a thrift store list for our own mud pie kitchen!!

It didn’t take us long to find just what we needed!!

First, I picked a nice shady spot in our yard. Not too far from the hose and close to lots of dirt and sand, sticks and leaves. All the essentials for good, messy fun. Something my kids love!

Next,  we headed to the thrift store to stock our kitchen—think little and cheap. Pots, pans, muffin tins, cups, bowls, silverware…..

These make the perfect little molds and were only 30 to 50 cents a piece! Besides the fact they are pretty and shiny!!

More pretty, shiny, cheap staples that every kitchen must have… a beautiful bright yellow tea pot and pitcher.

The appliances were a little more tricky to find. It took a second trip to the store–but we totally lucked out and found the black shelf marked $5.00 and the little book shelf marked $2.96 and both were half off.

Let me tell you– this has been a bustling kitchen… breakfasts, coffee, lunch and dinner and don’t forget dessert–lots and lots of desserts!!

Oh …and lots of soup

All served on a table the girls made out of some scraps of wood they found above the garage— and then painted with glitter paint. Yes, they are my girls!!

And when the meal is over….you must wash the dishes!

If you need any recipe suggestions, Ginger highly recommends this cook book

What’s cookin’ in your mud pie kitchen?