C is for Cookie

Today we had a little fun with letters ... a little yummy fun!

It would be one thing to just hand the kids some markers and put them to work practicing their letters. But wouldn't it be just a bit more fun if it involved cookies???

Yes, I couldn't agree more.

So, we copied the instructions given at Bake at 350, and we gave it a go at our house. Our results were not quite so elegant as hers, but what can you do?

(Um, eat them up? Yes, eat them up, yum!)
(he's concentrating, really, despite the appearance of being bored senseless)

Then use the letters (cookies) to spell out little words like:

and:

And I didn't have to worry about the mess we created ... I had some very happy helpers when it was time to clean up!

Valentine's Fun

This was our special Valentine's dessert - we actually had it Sunday, but it was worth the wait! I have the recipe at the bottom of this post because it really is that good. The cake recipe is from Southern Living and it ALWAYS works and it ALWAYS tastes good. It's fun to dress it up differently - this is what we did with it for Valentine's!

All that cake made us a little sleepy ... ahhhhhh, nappy time!

Ohhhh - I just want to nibble on those toes!

Now, turning back the clock to Friday, this is Thing 1 trying to figure out what is going on at her class party ... I loved that look on her face and snapped a quick shot.

She figured out what was going on and "jumped" right in on the fun!

She even helped The Boy have a fun time.

Thing 2 was also there - here she is running in the halls - I figure I can use this as blackmail - I'll show it to her principal if she starts slackin' at home.

Don't you love those little hats they made - class parties were a huge success!!!

They even let The Boy play Bingo! He was pretty happy! (and he won - he didn't realize he had won, but he won)

Now, the recipe for Perfectly Easy Golden Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

2 cups self-rising flour

1 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

fresh strawberries

Method:

First: set oven to 350F and grease and flour your baking pans (I use 3 round pans).

Beat sugar and oil in mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, until nicely blended. Add flour and milk (a little bit at a time) alternating between the two, beginning and ending with flour. When it is all blended, set the mixer at medium and let it mix for 4 minutes. When it's done, stir in the vanilla.

Spoon in the cake mixture evenly into your cake pans, thump them on the counter a few times to get out air bubbles and pop them in the oven. Bake for about 24 minutes, they will be a lovely golden yellow and slightly bouncy if you poke your finger in the middle of the cake. You can also do the toothpick test.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes then transfer to cooling racks.

NOTE ... I took a little tip from Bakerella - in working with layers, I sprayed some sugar water on the top of each layer to help maintain its moisture - easy to do and is a great little trick.

I put down my first layer, sprayed with sugar water, covered with a light layer of buttercream frosting (whipping cream would be a much lighter alternative and taste just as good, maybe even better - although I would probably eat more because it wasn't as rich) and then covered that with sliced strawberries. I did another layer just the same. The third layer was sprayed and frosted, then I just put strawberry halves all over the top. I didn't frost the sides because that would have been tooooooo much, even I have my limits. It was perfect just the way it was.

Serve it up with a glass of milk, eat, enjoy, and then take the left over half to your sister-in-law and her family because you will eat the rest if it stays in your home! Get a hug and kiss from your darling niece for providing a dessert for them, too!

Moist, flavorful, pretty and delish!

More Aprons - Sneak Peeks

I just sent off my Sassy/Flirty Apron Swap Apron today,

this is a little sneak peek:

And this is one more I am working on for a certain someone,

it's coming along and should be done by Monday:

So, no time for blogging, too much sewing!

Que Sew-A, Sew-A ... Whatever I See, I Sew ...

When I was just a little girlie -

My mother had a fancy machine

It was the Touch Tronic, 2001,

but the year was 1979.

She had me help her sew a million Rosie's

One year to give to her friends

I must have liked it, cuz' I couldn't stop it

And the projects will never end

When I went off with my new husband

My mom gave me the sewing machine

We had a family, I sewed for the babies

and everything in between.

Que Sew-A, Sew-A

Whatever I see, I sew

Halloween's the most fun, you know

Que Sew-A, Sew-A

And now, I'm an older girlie

And my mother has a new machine

I get her old one, which to me is a new one

The fanciest I've ever seen.

Que Sew-A, Sew-A
Whatever I See, I Sew
New Projects are Ready to Go
Que Sew-A, Sew-A

This is going to be FUN!

♥Thanks MOM!!!♥

The Amazing Jello

4 Boxes of Jello,


1 Tub of Sour Cream,


and nearly 7 hours,


and you have

The Amazing Jello

This is the award winning Jello that I have been bringing to family functions for years, and it always gets a wow from the crowd! And whether it's a good thing, or not, I am the reigning Jello Queen. (Really, I can't decide if I am proud of that title or not!)





Wanna give it a try?




Don't let the 7 hours intimidate you, it really only takes a few minutes every hour. And to make it easier on you,

YOUR TIMER IS YOUR FRIEND.

What You Need:


You start with 6-7 small boxes of Jello (or 3-4 large boxes if you are cheap like me - when it's the same price, I always buy the bigger box - then I just pour them into mugs to split them in half - I will be using it all anyways).






You will also need 1 tub of sour cream, ice water and whipping cream to dress it up.

A few things to have ready: 2 glass measuring cups, several large spoons, a whisk, a timer, a pretty dish to serve it in (I like a trifle dish), a 1/3 c. measuring cup, and a 1 TB. measuring spoon.





Directions:




1. Heat one cup of water in one of the measuring cups in the microwave for about 2 minutes - until boiling. Add one small packet of jello (or one half of a large packet) and stir until completely dissolved.




2. Pour half of the jello mixture into the other measuring cup.




3. Add 3 TB. ice water into one cup, stir well and pour this into your serving dish. Place this in the refrigerator and let set for about 30 minutes.




4. Immediately after pouring the first layer, add 1/3 cup sour cream into the second cup and stir with the wisk - this works way better than a spoon. Let it sit on your counter until the first layer is well set. When it is ready, pour the creamy jello onto the first layer, over a large spoon so that you don't break into the first layer. Place this in the refrigerator and let it set for about 30 minutes.




(*note - always pour over a spoon - these layers have a tendancy to break if you just pour the jello right onto it)






5. Repeat this for as many layers as you would like to have. It really only takes a few minutes each hour and you are done. This is what makes the timer such a lifesaver, set it and forget it.







6. If you like fruit, have fun with whatever you want to use - I think it looks great to add fruit to the clear layers - bananas, blueberries and raspberries are quite nice.




7. When you are done, garnish with some whipped cream - make a cute little design to add to whatever you are celebrating, as this jello should only be made for celebrations.






8. Bring to your party and have a smile on your face as everyone ohhhs and ahhhs over the creation. Whoever thought jello could be so elegant?






9. Dig in!

Cute Gift Packaging Idea

I picked this idea up from a Stampin' Up card making class I attended before Halloween. The lady teaching the card class handed out a few goodies, one of which was a little cardstock "box" with a candy bar inside.

Here is my interpretation of how to make this little "box" for Christmas gifts.

First though, what's inside? I made these little gifts to give to some of the ladies in my church's women's organization. The motto of our organization is, "Charity Never Faileth". So I made little marble magnets with the motto (btw - if any of you do this - silicon sealer from the hardware store works wonderfully - much better than glue) and put them in an Altoids gum container. (I included a thought about Christmas from President Thomas S. Monson, as well.)



Now for the packaging.

I cut out a square of cardstock large enough to fold around the altoids container. Then I folded the paper to make an open-ended box and glued it together. After that, you punch holes in the top (2 on opposite sides of each other) and add a little tag.



Now feed some ribbon through the holes.



Get the item you are packaging and slowly slide it down into the box, making sure the ribbon pulls down with the item. Just make sure you have somewhat even ends of ribbon on each side throughout this process.




Tie a pretty little bow at the top of the package and ...




Taaa - daaa - some cute little gifts to give.

This can be done with almost anything - I have many other ideas dancing around in my head.

This is a fun and easy way to make a little gift look very pretty. I am sharing it with

Elsa

do you have anything to share?