Fancy Brownies.... Semi-homemade

Sliced cherries, strawberries, mulberries and a mint leave make these brownies look fancy!

What you will need:

1 box of family size brownies - and what you need to make them
1/2 cup soften butter
1/2 cup crisco
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
1-2 tablespoons milk


Directions

I always line my pans, cookies sheets and jelly roll pans with parchment paper. Easy clean-up! 

Bake brownies as directed on the box. Cool completely!

To make buttercream frosting
Cream crisco and butter until smooth with mixer. 
Add vanilla. 
Add one cup of powered sugar at a time, will look crumbly and dry.
Add milk one tablespoon at a time until frosting starts coming together.
Whip on high for 30 seconds

Frost cooled brownies. Add sprinkles and fruit- optional, but recommend!

Bubble snakes....

My boys get bored VERY easy so I was looking up summer crafts to do. I stumbled across these. Bubble snakes! 

What you will need:

an old sock or rag
bubble solution
food coloring (optional)
rubber band
plastic bottle

Directions:

1. Cut the bottom off the plastic bottle.

2. Dump 2 cups of bubble solution into a bowl- set aside.

3. Put sock or old rag around the bottom of the bottle. Secure it with the rubber band.

4. If using food coloring, apply a few drops onto the rag/sock as shown in this photo.

5. Dip the bottom of the rag/sock into a bowl containing the bubble solution.


I would recommend an area that wouldn't be stained by food coloring. (example; grass) My deck was slightly stained green.
 
6. Now comes the fun part... blow! 

The boys had SO much fun doing this. I can surely see us doing this again!

Hi everyone! I'm back. I started this blog in 2011 and took a break from it a few months later. It is a lot of work to blog. I didn't realize it.I'm going to try to blog about food, recipes, crafts and everyday life with two boys!

Recipe of the day: Chocolate oatmeal waffle cookies

Ingredients
6 tablespoons baking cocoa powder
1/2 cup butter- soften 
2 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon 
1/2 cup oats- old fashion oats- not instant


Directions
Mix all ingredients in mixing bowl. Pre-heat waffle iron. Spray waffle iron with Pam spray. Drop dough by spoonfuls on iron. Close lid. Set timer for about 1.5-2.5 mins. Open lid and remove cookies with fork. Can eat plain or frost them if you wish. 

The first Farmer's Market

Today Collin, Dylan and I went to our local farmer's market for the first time this year. It was small as expected. There was an older man there selling breads and cookies. He pulled Collin aside and said "you take a sample, any sample." Of course my first reaction was "NO!", but I calmly said "oh no thanks", smiled and grabbed Collin. It's frustrating because I would have loved for Collin to have a sample, but not a hospital visit. He doesn't fully understand but I always explain everything. He knows his Momma will always make some peanut free treats for him anytime! :)

Recipe of the day: Grilled pork ribs w/ grilled corn and garlic chive butter

Ingredients
Ribs
2-3 lbs of pork ribs
1/8 cup paprika
2 tablespoons dry mustard powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons dry basil
2 tablespoons cracked pepper
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup dextrose powder


Directions
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all of the above ingredients except for ribs is a small bowl
Remove pork from package. Rise with cold water Pat dry. Message dry rub into pork. Allow rub to look "wet" before cooking. Place pork in shallow baking dish and bake for 1.5-2 hours. Ten minutes before ribs are done in oven, pre-heat grill. Remove ribs from baking dish and place on hot grill. Grill ribs for 10-15 minutes. 

ribs seasoned and ready!

Corn
Ingredients 
4 mini ears of corn- husked and cooked
1/2 stick of butter
1-2 teaspoons of minced garlic
1 teaspoon of fresh chopped chives


Directions
While the ribs are cooking on the grill- place corn on grill. turn frequently. It won't take very long since the corn is already cooked. Place butter into heat resistant bowl and place on grill.When butter is melted, stir in garlic and chives. 

on the grill

Done!!

Biggest Loser...

Who's watching the Biggest Loser tonight? I know I will be in about 30 minutes!