Gardener's Hand Scrub

I know I have posted how much I love Pinterest.  I am trying to come up with ideas to help out the ladies that run the Gift Making Day at my church. 

So I found an idea called Gardener's Hand Scrub and thought it would be a cute and easy thing to make.

I picked up the small mason jars last night at Walmart.  The original recipe called for the Pink Dawn, but the store I went to this morning didn't have it.  They had this on and the lavender kind.  I think this one smelled a bit better.

 

I used a bit more than 1/2 cup of granulated sugar.

Then added about 1/2 cup of the Dawn and mixed it well.  It was still a bit to runny so I added a bit more sugar.  When it looked and felt right I poured it into the mason jar.

 

Of course I am out of one of my ink cartridge so I quickly made a tag and cut it out in a tulip shape and added some scrapbook fibers.

Lunch 9/10/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch.  She has been asking for salad again.

Very Veggie Salad mix
Carrots, yellow bell pepper, red bell pepper, green beans, snap peas, Colby Jack Cheese cubes, honey ham and Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette
Strawberry Milk
Nutri Grain Bar
Mini Pretzels
Mini Chocolate Chip cookies

Pizza Friday Snacks 9/7/2012

Yeah it's Pizza Friday!  All Miss V needs today is a drink and a few snacks.

Capri Sun
Fruit Snacks
Mini Pretzels
Gogurt
Red Grapes
Apple Slices with Caramel dip

Unreal #41 Candy Coated Chocolates

I am a Bzz Agent and currently working on the Unreal Candy Campaign.  I have enjoyed the candy bars and next up are the Candy Coated Chocolates, aka Unreal #41.

First thing I noticed were the colors were definitely not artificial.  They more muted and that is fine with me.

I tried one and let it melt in my mouth.  It was slow to melt much like the "junked" brand.   Then the chocolate taste hit me by surprise.  It is NOT a sweet chocolate at all.  It definitely tasted like dark chocolate which I normally love.  I don't think I love these.  They left a bitter after taste in my mouth. 

You can find more information on Unreal #41 on their site.  Here is the list of ingredients
Milk Chocolate (chocolate, skim milk, cane sugar, cocoa butter, milk powder, organic blue agave inulin, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), Cane Sugar, Calcium Carbonate, Colored with (beetroot juice, turmeric root extract, purple cabbage juice), Gum Arabic, Vanilla Extract, Carnauba Wax & Beeswax

Contains milk, soy. May contain tree nuts, peanuts, wheat.

  I am not thrilled with these.  I know I would not purchase these.

Unreal #5 Chocolate Caramel Nougat Bar

So the other day I blogged about being a Bzz Agent and trying new candy from Unreal. 

Today I tried the #5 which is Chocolate Caramel and Nougat bar.  Again I cleared my mind and didn't want to compare it to the "national brand". 

The first thing I noticed how fresh the chocolate tasted.  It is has a nice flavor and not that sickly sweet taste.  I also noticed how thick the nougat was.  I really like that.  It makes you feel like you are eating something not air. 

I am very impressed with this candy bar too.

If you want more information about Unreal #5, just take a peek at their site.

Here is the bars nutional information.

Ingredients:
Milk Chocolate (cane sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milk powder, organic blue agave inulin, skim milk, soy lecithin, vanilla extract),Caramel (tapioca syrup, cane sugar, fructan (prebiotic fiber), organic palm kernel oil, whey, milk protein concentrate, organic cream, vanilla extract, salt, soy lecithin), Tapioca Syrup, Cane Sugar, Milk Protein Concentrate, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, Skim Milk Powder, Cocoa Powder, Salt, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Evaporated Cane Syrup, Soy Lecithin, Vanilla Extract
Contains milk, soy. May contain peanuts, tree nuts, wheat.

Lunch 9/6/2012

Here is Miss V's Lunch today

Horizon Vanilla Milk
Breakfast on the Go Packet
Pretzels & "cheese"
Fruit Snacks
Gogurt
Peanut Butter & Jelly on a Whole Wheat Goldfish
Carrots
Apple Slices & Caramel dip

Lunch 9/5/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch today

Peanut Butter & Jelly on a Whole Wheat Goldfish
Capri Sun
Gogurt
Mini Pretzels
Sweet & Salty Granola Bar
Fruit Snacks
Watermelon
Cantalope

Lunch 9/4/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch today

Peanut Butter & Jelly on a Whole Wheat Goldfish
Capri Sun
Mini Pretzels
Fruit Snacks
Watermelon, Cantalope and Green Grapes
Colby Jack Cheese Cubes

Unreal # 8 (Chocolate, Caramel, Peanuts, and Nougat candy Bar)

I am a Bzz Agent and recently was picked for the Unreal Candy Campaign.  I really couldn't wait to get my coupons.

They finally came in the mail the other day and I had to look online to see where they were sold.  I saw they were sold at Walgreens and that was perfect because I need to pick up a few other things. 

The Unreal coupons were Buy One Get One so I picked up all the different kinds.

The first one we tried was the Chocolate, Caramel, Peanuts and Nougat candy bar.  The first thing I did was to have an open mind.  Yes these are the same ingredients at my favorite candy bar.  The first bite kind of shocked me in a good way.  It wasn't sticky sweet.  The chocolate tastes more like semisweet than milk chocolate. 

Overall it tasted pretty good!  I am pretty impressed with it.  Just don't compare it to the "other" well known candy bar, if you do you might be disappointed if you go in with the expectation that it is going to taste just like it.

If you want, here is the link to the nutritional information:  Unreal #8

 

Milk Chocolate (cane sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, milk powder, organic blue agave inulin, skim milk, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), Caramel (tapioca syrup, cane sugar, fructan (prebiotic fiber), organic palm kernel oil, whey, milk protein concentrate, organic cream, vanilla extract, salt, soy lecithin), Peanuts, Tapioca Syrup, Cane Sugar, Organic Palm Kernel Oil, Skim Milk, Peanut Flour, Salt, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Evaporated Cane Syrup, Soy Lecithin
Contains peanuts, milk, soy. May contain tree nuts, wheat.

Lunch 8/31/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch today

Peanut Butter & Jelly on a Whole Wheat Goldfish
Red & Green Grapes
Sliced Cucumber
Capri Sun
Fruit Snacks
Goldfish Crackers

Chicken Tortilla Soup (my favorite version)

Reposted with a picture

I made this for a Teacher Appreciation lunch today.


Two large boneless skinless chicken breast (put on bottom of crock)
1 jar of your favorite salsa (I like using a medium spice)
1 can (14oz I think) diced tomatoes (with liquid)
1 box of chicken stock
2 tbs chili powder (more or less to taste)
1 tbs cumin (more or less to taste)
1 tsp white pepper (more or less to taste)
1 to 2 tsp ground thyme
2 tsp of kosher salt
1 bag of frozen corn

Put liquids on top of chicken. Cook on high about 3 hours or until chicken is cooked. Shred chicken. Return to crock. Add the bag of frozen corn and let cook for 30 to 60 minutes
Serve in a bowl with broken tortilla chips and shredded cheese. 
 
This is even better the next day.

Pineapple Palm Tree

I pinned this idea months ago on Pinterest and the opportunity to make it came up the other day.

The original pin did not give directions it was just a picture uploaded by a user.  So I had to put my thinking cap on.

I used a large wooden cutting board.  It is more simple to understand with pictures.

For the bottom pineapple, I used an apple corer to cut out some of the core so it sit right on the dowel. 

For the next two pineapples cut the top and bottom off of each.  Use dowels to attach them to the bottom pineapple and layer them up.

For the top pineapple, just cut the bottom off and use dowels to attach it to the pineapple below it.

I then used pygmy date palm fronds and just stuck them into the top pineapple.

It came out really cute but after an hour and half it started tipping.  The pineapples that I used were very ripe.  I think it would work much better with unripe pineapples.  The fruit inside wouldn't be so soft.

Phineas

Another guest post from Mrs. J.S

The other day she made Ferb and look at this cute Phineas sandwich for her daughter Miss S.

Lunch 8/30/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch today

Ham and Colby Jack Cheese on a Whole Wheat Goldfish
Dill pickle
Red and Green Grapes
Capri Sun
Gogurt
Fruit Snacks
Pretzels and "cheese dip"
Sweet and Salty Trail mix

Lunch 8/29/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch

Colby Jack Cheese, Pepperoni, Ritz Crackers
Gogurt
Fruit Snacks
Nutrigrain Bar
Green Grapes
Sliced Cucumber
Chopped Orange Bell Pepper
Capri Sun

Lunch 8/28/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch

Capri Sun
Grilled Chicken, Colby Jack Cheese and Spinach on a flour tortilla
Fruit Snacks
Pretzels
Goldfish
Gogurt
Red Grapes
Ants on a log

No school due to Tropical Storm Issac 8/27/12

Our schools are closed to do Tropical Storm Issac, but I wanted to show you a really cool sandwich made by another mom at Miss V's school.  I will call her Mrs. J.S. and her daughter is Miss S.

Is this not totally cool???

I bet Miss S loved it!!

Jif Hazelnut Spread?

Have you seen this before???  Last week I was printing online coupons and came across a coupon for Jif Hazelnut spread.  Looked interesting since we love Nutella so much.  I found it at my local walmart.

Miss V tried it on a waffle the other day and loves it!

Have you tried it yet?

Lunch 08/24/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch today.  I am hoping Pizza Friday starts soon!!

Turkey, Colby Jack Cheese, Mayo and lots of spinach on a mini croissant
Apple slices
Red Grapes
Ants on a log with Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Peanut Butter and extra "ants"
Pretzels
Gogurt
Horizon Strawberry Milk

Lunch 08/23/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch today

Yesterday afternoon we stopped by the store to pick up a birthday cake and Miss V said that she would like salad for lunch.  So we picked up the ingredients.

Veggie Lovers Salad Mix and Spinach, Grape Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Extra Carrots, Yellow Peppers, Colby Jack Cheese Cube and a couple slices of ham cut up.

Homemade Croutons
Italian Dressing
Gogurt
Sweet and Salty Granola Bar
Fruit Snacks
Goldfish
Horizon Vanilla Milk

Lunch 8/22/2012

Here is Miss V lunch today

Ritz, Colby Jack Cheese Cubes & Pepperoni
Red Grapes
Carrot Sticks and Green Goddess Dressing
Gogurt
Nutri Grain Bar
Lemonade Capri Sun

Lunch 8/21/2012

Here is Miss V's lunch today (aka lunchable)

Horizon Vanilla Milk
Sliced cucumbers
Carrot sticks
Ritz Crackers
Apples
Colby Jack Cheese Cubes
Sliced Pepperoni
Fruit Snacks
Nutri Grain Bar

First Day of school

Here is Miss V's lunch for the first day of school.

Today she has:

Ham & Colby Jack Cheese with Mayo on a Mini Croissant

Cheeze its

Gogurt

Sweet and Salty Trail Mix

Red Grapes

Apple Slices

Fruit Snacks

Lemonade Capri Sun

To answer your question....yes I do over pack her lunch.  She starts school at 7:55 and lunch is at 11:00 and she gets out at 2:45.  By the time we are on the way home she is snacking on what ever may be left over from lunch because she is starving.

Light Seasoned Broiled Chicken Drumsticks

So last night we had another Dinner & Movie night.  We watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.  This recipe also came from the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook. 

1 Pound Drumsticks, I used 2 pounds so we could have some leftovers
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
2 cloves garlic minced

Wash Drumsticks and pat them dry.

Whisk together the oil and seasonings.

Coat the drumsticks with the oil mixture and place onto a broiler pan.

Broil for 10 minutes on each side until crisp and golden.  (I just roasted them at 425 and turned them a couple times and basted them with the extra oil mixture).

I served them with Butter Peas which also comes from the same cookbook.

1 pound frozen peas
1 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tbs butter
1 tbs granulated sugar

Combine the peas and water in a small pot and bring them to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Drain the peas and return them to the small pot.

Add the salt, pepper, butter and sugar.  Toss until the butter melts and is well combined.

Miss V cracked up when Ron was gobbling down the drumsticks on TV.

Butterbeer Version 2

This time we did a little something different with the Butterbeer last night.

1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tbsp powdered sugar
2 12 oz of your favorite cream soda
2 tsp vanilla butter and nut flavoring or butter extract

Start by measuring the heavy whipping cream and the extract into a cocktail shaker. Next, add the powdered sugar. Shake briskly until mixture begins to thicken.

Pour the cream soda from the can or bottle directly into two individual mugs.

Now gently pout the whipping cream mixture so that it floats on top in a layer about a half inch thick. Enjoy!

The whipped cream tasted much better with the extract added to it.

Sausage Rolls

Here was our main course for Saturday's Dinner and Movie - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  The recipe comes from the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook

We did make a double batch and used different kinds of sausage.

1 box of store bought puff pastry
Spicy brown mustard
1 pound sausages or hot dogs
1 egg beaten with 1 tbs of water

Preheat oven to 425.  Grease and flour a cookie sheet or line with parchment.

Unroll thawed puff pastry sheets and cut out 8 to 10 4 1/2 inch squares.  Spread mustard on each square.  Place a sausage on the edge of the puff pastry and roll up.  Lay the rolls on the cookie sheet and brush with the egg wash.  Cut three slits on top of each sausage roll.

Bake for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 375 and bake for another 10 minutes until puffed and golden.

For the sausages I did precook them.  I used regular Sweet Italian Pepper and Onion and Chicken sausage with Sundried Tomato.  I can tell you the Chicken sausage was a major fail.  They tasted bland.  The hot dog and Sweet Italian sausage ones were a big hit.

Butterbeer

So Saturday night we decided to have a Dinner and Movie Night.  Miss V checked out the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook from the library.  We were dissapointed that Butterbeer was not listed in there so I did a little Googling and found a simple recipe.

The original recipe is for 4 drinks, but only two of us were going to be drinking them so I halved the recipe.

1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tbsp powdered sugar
2 12 oz of your favorite cream soda
2 tsp vanilla butter and nut flavoring or butter extract

Start by measuring the heavy whipping cream into a cocktail shaker. Next, add the powdered sugar. Shake briskly until mixture begins to thicken.

Pour the cream soda from the can or bottle directly into two individual mugs and then add 1 tsp of the flavoring or extract to each.

Now gently pout the whipping cream mixture so that it floats on top in a layer about a half inch thick. Enjoy!

We got a little crazy with the whipped cream it was so good!  As you can tell Miss V really enjoyed her Butterbeer.

Nutella Milkshake

Last night Miss V picked out the Nutella Milkshake.

Blend one pint of vanilla ice cream, 1/2 cup nutella and 1/4 cup of milk.

Makes 2.

This one was just "ok". 

Mango Yogurt Milk Shake

I love the little booklet that comes in Food Network Magazine that has 50 recipes.  We finally got around to trying one on Friday night.  I picked the Mango-Yogurt one.

Blend one pint of mango sorbet, 1 cup chopped mango and 2/3 cups of plain yogurt.  Top with chopped mango. 

Makes 2.

This one was so yummy, light and refreshing.  As you can see it did make two nice sized milkshakes.

Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole

This also comes from Pinterest, it is called Overnight Blueberry French Toast.  I put it together last night and popped in the oven this morning.  The original recipe fits in a 13x9 pan.  I halved it and baked it in a 9x9 pan.  The recipe below is for the half recipe.

For the casserole

1/2 loaf of french bread, cut into cubes
4 oz cream cheese, cut in cubes
1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
6 large eggs
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup milk

For the syrup:

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
1 Tablespoon butter

Arrange half of the bread cubes in a greased 9 x 9 pan.

Place the cream cheese cubes and blueberries over the bread cubes.

Top with remaining bread cubes.

Mix the eggs, milk, and syrup.

Pour the egg mixture over bread cubes press lightly with a wooden spoon to make sure all of the bread gets wet.

Cover pan with foil and and let rest in refrigerator overnight.

Bake covered with foil at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes lightly golden brown.

Remove from oven and let it cool slightly while making the syrup.

Syrup: In a small sauce pan heat water, sugar, and cornstarch until thickened. Stir in blueberries and gently simmer for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add the butter and stir until melted. Serve over the french toast.  It is super sweet so use sparingly.

It was very yummy!!