Sunday, August 29, 2010

Homemade Granola






What is nice about making your own granola? Well for one thing...cost! Browsing the grocery store selection at $6-10 a bag was more than enough to make me look at an alternative. And for another thing...you can choose what goes in it. :) We usually get our ingredients in the bulk/by-the-pound area of the store and it winds up being almost dirt cheap to make this in large quantities. And the kids love it as a snack or cereal in the morning.

STOVETOP GRANOLA:
1 tbsp olive oil
2 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup butter
2 tbsp. honey
1/3 cup brown sugar
and roughly 1 to 1 1/2 cups worth of add-ins (nuts, raisins, dried cranberries, chopped dates, chocolate chunks...whatever you wish)

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over med-high heat. Add oats and cook & stir until starting to brown and crisp, about 5 min. Spread on a cookie sheet to cool for a few minutes.

2. Melt butter in the same pan over med. heat. Stir in honey & brown sugar; cook stirring constantly, until bubbly. Return oats to pan. Cook & stir for another 5 minutes or so. Pour on cookie sheet to cool.

3. Once cool, break into bite-sized chunks and transfer to an airtight container. Stir or shake in the extra add-ins you choose.

Enjoy!!!


In the photos above, I had DOUBLED the recipe, so that shows how much a double batch would make. And I used dried cranberries, chopped dates and raisins. I didn't use nuts or choc. this round. Also if you wanted a vanilla hint to this, you could add it during the butter-melting stage (about 1 tsp of vanilla extract). P.S. I highly recommend a cambro bucket for every cook's kitchen! (that is what I store my granola in when I'm not using it to rise bread doughs).

Sunday, August 22, 2010

County Fair

We went to the county fair and I took some great photos of the kids having fun on the rides. I don't do the rides. I'd rather watch and smile at everyone else who is doing them than go on them myself. These days I don't like heights as much as I did when I was little. :P Did you know that an "Elephant Ear" (a fair staple!) was $6.25 ?!?!?! I didn't get it either... but this week I might just have to make some at home so we can have more than one and have it actually taste good, too, while we're at it. The one we got there was so crispy it was like eating crunchy paper. BUT the kids had fun and that's what counts. :)

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Painted Fabric Skirt

















Today was kinda windy and icky outside...
so we took the time to paint up some fabric (using
watered-down acrylics and some permanent
markers). Then hung it outside on the clothes line to dry for about an hour. And finally...turned it into a cute little skirt that took less than 10 min. to sew. :) So simple and cute!! And the kids all got to see their artwork turn into something functional.



p.s. I'd like to credit the blog: http://www.filthwizardry.com/
for this wonderful idea!

Miniature Cake from p.c.


This cake is about the size of a quarter and I think it might wind up used in someone's dollhouse around here really soon :D I need to make more of them!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Heart Cookies



Hearts in pink and purple :) I think these would be cute for Valentine's Day or for an anniversary. Pro-tip: when working with royal icing (of the meringue powder variety) the "flood icing" should be the consistency of paint or thick heavy cream before using to flood the cookies. :)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Flower Cookies






This is what I stayed up until 2am working on last night...it was a good test-run for the icing recipe. I've been searching for a good one for a few years and I think this one has definitely made the top 3, if not #1. :) Just waiting for these to 'set up' and dry so I can package them up.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Craft Challenge!


http://lilblueboo.blogspot.com/2010/05/lil-blue-boo-dharma-trading-ugly-knit.html

Will you try out this challenge? I am definitely considering it :D

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Icey-Pop Holders


You'll have to forgive the blurriness of the photo...the little model was holding as still as he could, but my camera was jumping around :P But you get the idea of what it is- an icey-pop holder made from those $.25 felt squares you can get at the craft store, along with some embroidery thread. Super easy, takes less than 5 minutes to whip one up, and keeps their hands from getting cold! :)

P.S. Beware if you have boys, they might suddenly start acting like Star Wars characters with light sabers... you've been warned ;)

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Odds & Ends Polymer Clay


You see...this is what happens when I just sit down with clay and don't necessarily have something specific in mind to make. I wind up with candies, a rose cake, robots and a carrot! No idea why that combination of things. hehehe :D But they are fun to make. :) I need to sit down and make a list of ideas so that next time I have a real goal!! :D

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Banana Drop Earrings- SOLD!!!



These fruity earrings are SOLD...and now I think I want to make another pair (or two...) :) With different beads. I like having everything a little different from one another. :)

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Miniature Cakes



These cute little cakes are only about 2 inches tall all made from polymer clay. :) Perfect for a little girl's dollhouse! Check out my Etsy for more pics. :)