Homemade Microwave Popcorn

I think we talked about this not too long ago and I wanted to post the recipe...not that it is really hard...but still - i think the idea is brilliant - and from experience it really works!

We tried this thinking - it will probably crash and burn - but it tastes just like you made it on the stove and you don't have that artificial buttery thing going on...I don't like that fake taste - give me the real thing baby!! :)

So here you go - go for it - and if you try it...let me know if you like it!!

Homemade Microwave Popcorn Recipe!

Oreo Thanksgiving Turkey

I love this!!

I found this at one of my favorite blogs to read "make and takes".

I was looking for a "Thanksgiving Craft Tradition" to start with the boys...and you know I ain't crafty ;)

So I found this and thought...I can do that!! Now obviously this is a treat...you won't find any vegetables in this recipe, but it looks really cute and I think it would look fabulous at your Thanksgiving Table!

We are making these next week - although we are not having anyone over for Thanksgiving, it is just the 4 of us - so we will be eating these ourselves...not that I mind!

Happy Crafting!!

Oreo Turkey Craft!

Which Sesame Street Character are you!?!?

Maybe something you have never thought of but it is a fun and harmless quiz to take to find out which character you resemble. I am Elmo - though I really thought I was going to be Big Bird...oh well...Elmo is ok I guess :)
Hope you are having a wonderful day - This blog post was brought to you by the letter C and L and by the number 5!

Sesame Street Interactive Quiz...which character are you!?

Video Mom Tip!

As promised - here is the Mom Tip about peeling a potato without a potato peeler!
It is much easier to see it then to have it explained on the radio so that is why I put it up here for you - Enjoy...and let me know if it works for you!

Best Cupcake EVER!

Bob - a listener friend - sent me this recipe when I mentioned that I was trying to come up with the perfect cupcake that people went nuts over...Bob said he was on a mission to do the same thing and finally found it!! He sent me the recipe and I get to share it with you now!! I know a lot of people were looking for this so enjoy...I've included the frosting recipe too...yum!!

Bob's Perfect Chocolate Cupcake Recipe -

2 cups sugar
1 ¼ cups all purpose flour
¾ cup Cocoa
1 ½ tsps baking soda
1 ½ tsps baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup whole milk (can substitute 2%)
½ cup peanut oil (can substitute vegetable oil)
2 tsps vanilla
1 cup boiling water
Heat oven to 350°F. Prepare boiling water. Have a good rolling boil. Prepare baking pans by spraying PAM spray and flouring them. Can use single 9-inch x 13-inch x 2-inch pan, three square pans 8-inch x 8-inch or three 9-inch round pans. Can also make 18-24 cupcakes, but use the foil cupcake wrappers.
In large mixer bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla into bowl, then beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in the boiling water, this will cause the batter to bubble and thin, that is just fine.
Pour batter into prepared pans or use 1 cup measure to pour into cupcake wrappers. Fill wrappers 1/3 to 1/2 full.
Bake 25-30 minutes for square or round pans, 30-35 minutes for rectangular pan, or 20-25 minutes for cupcakes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks and complete cooling. Frost if desired.

Bob's Famous Frosting

Single Recipe (Original)
3/8 cup softened butter
1/8 cup Crisco
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla
6 Tbsp milk (add more if needed)
Combine ingredients and frost cake, cupcakes, cookies, etc.
1 ½ recipes covers Dark & Rich Chocolate Cake
½ recipe covers 1 recipe sugar cookies.
1 ½ Recipe (Modified 2009)
This recipe is modified from the original to remove the Crisco, and still provide a stiff frosting for the cake layers. The coconut oil and the whole milk are thicker than 2% milk and only using butter.
6 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
3 Tbsp Coconut Oil
2 tsp vanilla
3/8 – 1/2 cup whole milk (start with 3/8 and add more if needed)
Let the cake cool, and micro the frosting for 5-8 seconds to soften it just before you apply.

10 Tips to Save on Christmas Shopping!

I think that maybe all of us could use one of these tips this season...Our family already has a plan in motion that I think will benefit us greatly in our desire to "cut back" this year...we say it every year but this year it has to happen!!

I was proud to read through this list and find that I do a lot on the list already! You may too...but I think the whole list is good advice!

Happy Shopping

10 Tips to Save on Shopping this Christmas!

What "Soda" does to your body!

So I put this up on my blog today with great disappointment...see I LOVE Diet Pepsi...I have drank WAY too much of it over the years....When I entered my 30's I began to notice a lot of wacky health issues and when I would stop drinking Diet Pepsi...they would go away. So - last week I gave it up for good. Now I know that Diet is worse for you than regular soda so if I feel the need to indulge I may have a Coke every now and again but according to this article, both regular and diet are not great for you...it scared me straight...so I offer it to you. I know that it helped me to feel better - so maybe it could do the same for you.

I read a book recently that called pop "liquid satan" - thought that was a little harsh...but I see their point!

What soda does to your body! - Read the article here

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies - Oh My!

Yeah - I can't do it...I promise no more pumpkin...and then I see this. When the picture makes me want to eat the screen - I have to share it with you! I love pumpkin so much I may adopt it and make it part of my family :)

So here you go...do with it what you will- but I hope you enjoy...and let me know if you make it and you love it...I am going to do the "thanksgiving practice run" this week so I will let you know how it goes!

Hugs!

Pumpkin Whoopie Pie Recipe!

Last Pumpkin Recipe of the Season!

This is a keeper! It is best to dip with gingersnaps...so delish!

I promise - this is the last pumpkin recipe of the season - it has been fun!!

Ingredients:

8 oz. light or fat free cream cheese
2/3 cup light brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 15 oz. can pumpkin puree

Preparation:

In a food processor (or in a bowl by hand) pulse the cream cheese until smooth. Add next four ingredients (brown sugar, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cinnamon) to food processor and blend well. Empty cream cheese mixture into a bowl, add the pumpkin puree and mix well. Refrigerate until served.

Enjoy!

Cold and Flu Survival Guide!

As I type this...I am sniffing and coughing...my kids will be home from school tomorrow because they feel the same way - and we are generally just "icky". So I thought I would post a nice list of things you can do to fight the colds and flu this winter...A survival guide you might say.

I am sitting here with kleenex, a big glass of water and a fuzzy blanket that makes me feel somewhat better - I want you to be able to fight it so here you go - have a healthy week!

Cold and Flu Survival Guide - the 12 things you need!

Pumpkin/Cake Mix Delight!

I have had a TON of requests for this - so I wanted to put it into written form so you can try it before "pumpkin season" is thru! It may seem hard to believe that you can just take a cake mix and a can of pumpkin...mix and cook - but you can! I have pasted the recipe below...

Now - let me tell you that you can use a chocolate cake mix...I actually prefer that...and you do not have to add pumpkin pie spice - that is optional...sometimes I do...sometimes I don't.

I love this recipe - they are dense, but I think they are good! Enjoy!!

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• *optional - 1-2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, pumpkin puree, until smooth. Spoon equal amounts of batter into the prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean.

Pumpkin Roll Time!

This is what I have promised to bring to Thanksgiving this year...and what has been devoured every time I bring it to a function...the people love it! =)

I never tried to make a pumpkin roll before because I thought it would be difficult and I would somehow mess it up - but it actually turned out great.

Now - you will notice in the recipe that it talks about how to roll it out after it cooks...let me tell you what I do - you can follow the recipe or my way - either way - I think it will work.

When I take out the roll - I immediately take it out of the pan and put it on parchment paper that i dust heavily with powdered sugar. I roll it up immediately and leave it there for 20 minutes. Then I unroll, frost the inside, roll back up and put into the freezer for 45 minutes...I wrap it in an outer layer of foil before I put it in the freezer...and that's all folks! Again - you are welcome to try it any way you like - but don't be afraid!! =)

Pumpkin Roll Recipe - the best I have found (and I have tried a bunch!!)