My kiddos like to participate in their school plays (they totally get their drama from their Mama!)
There’s typically a bake sale going on outside the auditorium through the duration of the show weekend. I try to help out as much as I can with school activities and baking at home is something that is easy for me to do along with all the other Mom Stuff I’ve got going on. I wanted to do something fun and different for the sale, but because I’m me, I waited until the last minute to actually bake said fun treat, so I had to scrounge in my cabinets to piece together the supplies.
Here’s what I came up with: A big ol’ slab of freshly baked milk chocolate brownie – straight from the box, dino-shaped sprinkles, craft sticks, clear treat bags and a rectangle-shaped cookie cutter.
I was short on time (surprise, surprise) so I threw the baked brownie slab into the freezer to speed up the cooling process. Also, cutting brownie into shapes is a bit easier when the brownie is room temp or cold.
Once it was cool, but not frozen – I basically had just enough time to clean up the kitchen from baking the brownies, change a diaper, wash my hands and fold a few towels before it was time to take them out of the freezer – I started cutting out my shapes. It is really important to remember to grease your pan before adding the brownie batter due to this step in particular. The greased pan will allow you to easily remove your cut-out shapes.
If you’re wondering – “what about the outside and inside pieces that aren’t part of the cut-outs? They’re just wasted.” Ummm, no way. We eat them. We don’t discriminate based on shape, size or general appearance of desserts. We’ll literally eat anything.
Once you’ve got your brownie rectangles cut out, take your craft sticks and push them through one of the short ends of the brownie. I had to go about halfway in to ensure the brownie and the stick would fit in the size bags I had on hand.
Taking a pastry brush and a glass of water, I brushed the top of the brownies until slightly damp and added the sprinkles on the brownie.
*the water just helps the sprinkles stick to the top of the brownie. Technically, you could add the sprinkles before baking the brownies, but in my experience the sprinkles lose a little of their bright color and tend to be more brittle after they’ve been baked. I prefer to add them at the end.*
Slide the Brownie Pops into the treat bags, brownie side first and tie the bag closed around the craft stick with curling ribbon, twist ties, yarn or string.
Dino Brownie Pop Perfection – BRAVO! These pops will make everyone screaming for an ENCORE! <—– see what I did there?!
This chicken flavored sticky rice using authentic sushi rice will be your new favorite supper time side dish!
My older kids have been eating a lot of rice lately. I don’t know exactly why, but all of a sudden it’s their go-to for weekend lunch or evening snacks. So much so, that I’m constantly replenishing our good ol’ box of “Instant White Rice” at the grocery store. And because of this, I’ve started paying way more attention to the other types of rice around me. To the point that I’m ashamed that I never knew some of them even existed. Like, did you know “Instant White Rice” isn’t the only white rice? Or that the amazing rice you get at the hibachi restaurants is actually sold in the store to non-hibachi-restaurant owners? It’s actually not an Ancient Chinese Secret? I’m embarrassed to say that I certainly didn’t!
And this Sticky Chicken Rice is yum-azing! It may not be as good for sushi (it’s still sticky, but the broth definitely changes the sticky aspect a bit differently than adding the traditional rice vinegar)
After you've rinsed (or not rinsed) your dry rice, add your rice to the instant pot.
Add your water and your bouillon cubes.
Seal your instant pot closed.
Set to cook on Manual (on my appliance it's the Steam setting) for 4 minutes.
Allow the pressure to release naturally at the end of cook time.
If using in a traditional supper side dish – fluff the rice and serve warm.If using in a sushi dish – remove inner pot from appliance and set to the side allowing it to cool to room temperature.Fluff the rice and flatten with wet hands to prepare to roll.
Sometimes it still seems like a wild dream. The flight, the driver, the hotel, the makeup and hair, the green room, the meeting Kelly Clarkson!
But, it was real. And I worked crazy hard to get there.
I’ve had loads (I mean a serious crap ton) of people approach me, email me, call me (seriously though – don’t call. Send a text. It freaks me out when my phone rings – it’s just too much commitment to answer the call) and ask me: “HOW DID YOU GET ON THAT SHOW?” Because, obviously, they were scratching their heads in as much disbelief as I was myself.
There’s no short answer to this question. Fate? Talent? My Adorably Chubby Face? I know for a fact it’s not any one thing that landed me there – although my chubby face helped, I’m sure of it.
So, for those of you who have been curious how this yoga pants wearin’ non-yoga doin’ girl from little Medina, Ohio got to meet Kelly Clarkson – here’s the short version:
First off, nothing has ever really come easy for me. I’ve always been the girl that had to work twice as hard (sometimes in my teen years it seemed 50 thousand times harder) than the person doing the same thing next to me. I wasn’t “naturally” good at much of anything. But, I learned early on that if I really, realllllly tried, I could manage being okay at most everything. Just “okay”. Which was especially frustrating in school when I was busting my hiney, practicing or studying every night religiously while the other person just showed up but still managed to be better. I just wanted to be considered good at something. ANYTHING.
And this is why I’m proud to say that without a doubt, I’ve finally found something I excel at.
Being my kids Mom.
I’m not saying I’m a Super Mom. Or the Best Mom. Or The Mom to be. I’m simply saying I’m a Rock Star at being their Mom. All 8 of ’em.
And, because I’m a Mom of 8, ranging in age from 2-20, I’ve learned a few ‘tricks and tips’, some ‘do’s and don’ts’ and a heck of a lot of ‘probably best to never do that again’s’ along the way. With an arsenal of parenting wins and fails, systems for shopping on a low (loooow) budget, perfecting our larger-than-most meals and creating a home for my family using mostly reimagined items, I’m the queen bee of this adorably unique castle; which is actually a small-ish house that we’re all squished in together all cozy like – just like a bee hive – noisy, sticky and at any moment, depending who you touch, you may get stung.
So here I am. Sitting at my computer. Typing these words to you in an attempt to explain how this girl that was never really fantastic at anything hopped a plane to LA and had a spot on National Television creating a craft alongside Kelly Clarkson – AND Octavia Spencer!
Was it just pure dumb luck? Honestly, I’d be lying if I didn’t say probably a little bit.
But, was it mostly hard work, perseverance, sleepless nights, loads and loads of failed ideas, and repeatedly getting up and dusting myself off every.single.time someone or something knocked me down? Absolutely. Yes. Since I started blogging and making television appearances, I’ve had my fair share of “NO’s”.
“No, you’re not good enough.” “No, we’re not interested.” “No, you will need to trim up a bit before we even consider that.” “No, we’re not sure you are what the viewers want.”
In the past 2 years, I’ve heard it all.
What I wasn’t hearing, because I was too busy listening to all of the outside noise, was myself. And the moment I finally started listening to what I had to say, was a moment of self reckoning. It was when I realized God had been leading me down my path all along. It wasn’t about what I was or wasn’t good at.
It was about what I was here to do and who I was here to do it for.
I was meant to be a Mom. A Mom of Many. And I was meant to do it a bit different than every other Mom I’d known before. What started as a big mistake and a lot of hard lessons (I was a teenage mom – but that’s a whole different ugly-cryin’ long story) turned into a purpose and a direction. And a large and wonderful family that I love with every inch of my being.
Having a soccer team big fam means you learn how to pinch pennies while you feed, clothe and raise a small army on the daily. And for me in particular, it meant getting creative with our spaces and corners to curate a home for my growing family that showcased a little bit of all 10 of us under one roof. And sharing my ideas and creations with the world on this blog was a way of helping this tired, worn-out mother find a hobby of her own that had nothing to do with poop, snot or dirty laundry.
So to make a long, somewhat dramatic story short, allllll of that and a maybe a teensy bit more that I don’t even know, led me to Los Angeles and The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Flying home from this experience, all I could think about was being back with my little and not-so-little ones. Sleeping under the same roof, on my own pillow (I’m funny about pillows. And sheets. And hotel floors. Don’t get me started on the bathtubs.) and kissing all those sweet cheeks. There was a moment when I was standing in my shower at 3 am scrubbing the airplane grime off, my false eyelashes from the show were slowly detaching into what looked like disgusting squished spiders in my hand and I realized it was over. I was back where I was meant to be. This place, these people, after all, were the whole reason I am where I am and why I was on the show in the first place.
But, let’s be real. For that 36 hours, I was a friggin’ STAR with killer lashes in overalls!
But wait! Before you think this is a “And everything was perfect. The End.” type of roses and sunshine story, I should add in full disclosure: the entire duration of this amazing time in my life, I had strep throat, pink eye and pretty much no eyeballs due to extreme sensitivity to light and the inability to open my eyelids thanks to a tremendous amount of nasty, green conjunctivitis gunk. Also, I was heavily drugged. Sooo, yeah.
“If you liked it then you should have put some cheese and chips on it” is what I always say. Okay, not really, but if I were to talk about how to make a Tuna Casserole your kids will actually eat, I totally would belt this out in such a way that Beyonce would be proud. Okay, not really that either. Alas, here’s the casserole recipe. And you can print out it. Trust me, you’ll love it.
Cheesy Chip Tuna Noodle Casserole
Cheese and Chips make everything taste better. Especially this Tuna Noodle Casserole. The size is meant to feed a crowd (my big ol' family of 10). You may want to half the ingredients in the recipe for a smaller sized casserole.
I love that there are so many rainbow decorations popping up everywhere. It’s like my childhood dreams of growing up to be Rainbow Bright are finally realized! But, I love a good, cheapo DIY even more than a revisit with my kidhood.
And the other day while putting away my daughter’s hair ties and accessories (that were scattered all over the sink like they are every.single.night – sigh), I noticed that her headbands were all bunched together in a pretty way. Which led me to thinking how much it resembled a rainbow. Which led me to imagine how cute it would be surrounded by a bunch of round white clouds. Which led me picturing it sitting all pretty on the dining room table. Which then led me to this project. <— I swear, this is actually how my “artsy-crafty” brain works. It’s kinda scary-ridiculous, I know.
So, I dug out rainbow colored headbands, grabbed a handful of her little teeny tiny black hair ties, a thin wood piece for the base, 2 small corner braces (same ones I used here), my trusty hot glue gun and I got to craftin’!
First I stacked up the headbands in the order I wanted them to be in (ROY-G-BIV – obvs.)
Next I attached them together with the little hair ties.
After attaching the headbands to the corner braces on each side with more hair ties, for additional stability I hot glued each corner brace to the interior bottom of the stack of headbands.
Using a screw driver and a small screw, I attached the brace bottom to the wood base.
Gently pull the headbands apart so they ascend into an arch. Lastly, using different sized white foam and white felt balls, I hot glued them around the base of the braces to create exaggerated, puffy clouds.
Bonus! It even looks good with dinosaurs!!! And I consider that a Win-Win!!!
I love plants. I love macrame. I love plants IN macrame. But, I had no place to put these beautiful combo pieces in my home. That is, until I built this beauty. 5 pieces of wood, 2 bolts and a few pieces of scrap leather is all it took! Total price – under $10!
I started with 5 2×2 wood pieces that are about $2 a piece at Home Depot. I cut 4 of them into 5ft length to be used as the end pieces and the last piece approximately 3 ft in length for the top bar. I used my rotary tool to cut my pieces because the weather outside was crummy, but a table saw would work great. Or have them cut the pieces for you before you leave the hardware store!
It is probably easier to paint or stain at this point in the project – before you put the stand together. I tend to do things the stupid hard way, so in true-to-me form I chose to carry the whole thing, completely put together, outside to spray paint.
Once my pieces were cut and sanded lightly with a sanding block, I measured 7 inches in from the top, marked the spot, and drilled a pilot hole for the bolts.
After the bolts were run through the 2 pieces and the hex nut was tightened at each end just enough to hold the “x” shape, I determined how wide I wanted the stand to sit and matched the 2 sets in width so the stand would sit evenly. Then I finished tightening the hex nuts to the bolts until they were super tight.
I knew some of my plants that would hang on it were heavier in size, and also because I have little ones, I reinforced the top bar to each “x” end stand with wood screws to ensure the sturdiness of the piece.
As a last addition, I took some of my scrap leather pieces left over from past projects, cut them into equal sized strips and used them to accentuate the stand. I attached the leather to the front legs and the top of the posts by screwing them gently into the wood. The 2×2 wood was a bit too wide for the s-hooks I had on hand, so I used the shoestring leather pieces to tie around the top bar of the plant stand to attach the macrame hangers from.
Fun fact: bags of scrap leather can actually be purchased at the craft store. From shoe string-size pieces, some stained different shades to larger irregular shapes, the bags are actually a great value for a crafter!
I am so in love with how it turned out. Very simple style yet a great statement piece. Cute and functional – my favorite!
It drives me nuts when people are like: “Oh my gosh Kristin, you’re totally obsessed with The Pioneer Woman.” And I’m like: “listen Debbie, Karen & Judy. Just because I watch her on TV, follow her on all social media accounts, make her meals religiously, am curious about what she’s up to every day of her life, have written her 60-70 handwritten fan-mail letters, googled her phone number & call her Ree while referring to her, does NOT mean there’s an obsession.” Seriously, jeez. The term “obsessed” is used so loosely nowadays…. 🤣😆🤫 On an unrelated side note, I’ve been eyeing these Pioneer Woman bread boxes at Walmart for weeks. No, for months! Problem is, we don’t keep bread in the house long enough to warrant a bread box. One loaf only lasts us a day or two, so there’s no worry about the bread going bad or needing a long-term storage solution for it. Until, I decided to utilize it for another purpose! Now a messy, all over the counter, makes-me-crazy-daily problem is now solved! May I present: 🥁 (drum roll please) 🥁
The Pioneer Woman Bread Box Turned Charging Station
Super simple supply list:
Bread Box, Foam Craft Board, Cute Scrapbook Paper, Clear Tape and a Power Strip.
Measure the inside of your bread box and cut a piece of foam board to fit snuggly inside.
I chose to cover my foam board with cute – somewhat matchy to the floral design on the front of the box – scrapbook paper I had in my supply. But, wallpaper, wrapping paper, washi tape or even painting the foam board would work!
Once your foam piece is cut and covered, you will need to drill a hole (or, in my case, 3 holes because I had a 1″ spade drill bit and honestly was too lazy to look for anything else) in the back of the bread box to allow the power strip to be plugged in from behind.
Once you have all of your charging cords plugged in and pushed back, cut small squares from the bottom of your foam board to allow the cords to easily pop through. I only cut 4 because typically we don’t have more than 4 devices charging at the same time. Next, just push your foam board cover in the front to cover all the messy cord crap in the back!
It really is such a cute and decorative way to clean up your counter space and downsize the cluttered look of all those charging cords!
The simplest way to DIY a book ledge for any wall!
Honestly, this project was completed months ago. I made sure to take clear, quality pictures of each step at the time of construction. And then somewhere between then and now, the amazing step-by-step pictures have been lost in the wide world of the interweb.
Sooooo, I took crappy pictures of an already finished project to try my darndest to explain how the heck I made these things.
Honestly, these DIY Book Ledges are a pretty simple concept. I used 1″ x 2″ furring strips, outside corner moulding and brass corner braces. That’s truly all it took. But, in an attempt to help you better understand the process, I will proceed below with my subpar pictures and most-likely even lower standard of explanation….
You’re welcome (and I’m sorry!)
The first step was to measure the length of the wall I wanted the ledges to hang on as well as how many layers of ledges there would be. I also needed to make sure I knew the width of the books I was planning on displaying as I was hoping to use outside corner moulding pieces (these are traditionally about an inch or so in size) and a thicker book wouldn’t fit. These particular vintage books were a find on Facebook Marketplace and were all fairly thin, so my idea was perfect.
Once I knew the length of the wall and width of the books. Off to Home Depot I went!
After picking up 4 furring strips and the outdoor corner moulding (that I had found in the clearance section because they had been previously cut and each had a warped edge), I found the braces that were also the correct width to fit the moulding.
I waited in line for quite a while on a Saturday morning to have these bad boys cut for me. I have my own saws at home, but it was rainy and cold and it seemed like an easier option to have Home Depot cut the trim pieces instead. It’s actually a pretty sweet service they offer at no cost to the customer and saves loads of time on your projects! Just make sure you are 100% sure of your desired length – otherwise you’re stuck with a wrong size wood piece that you’ve already purchased and brought home.
The first step to actually constructing the ledges was to attach the furring strips to the wall. I decided to paint these white first (so they would blend in with the already white wall) and stain the corner moulding pieces to give the ledges a ‘warm’ look. Our walls are stucco and completely thin crap. Seriously. It’s a crazy pain to even find a stud and anything, heavy or not, must be attached to a stud. The function of the furring strips was to allow a foundation for the ledges that could be drilled into a stud and then be fully covered with the corner trim.
This is a really odd angle of the underside of the moulding trim.
Next, after waiting for the stain to dry on the wood trim pieces, I attached them to the furring strips using the braces. I used 3 corner braces per ledge – one on each end and one in the middle. Learn from my mistake and be sure to use a drill bit extender or else you will jack-up your wood like I did here.
I personally consider these mess-ups to be a signature of sorts. Like, they say: “handmade slightly imperfectly by Kristin.”
Christmas is over and a brand spankin’ new year is on the horizon. Whether you are entertaining a large crowd to ring in 2020 or just chillin’ at home with your fam, I’ve got a few DIY party ideas to share that are easy on time and the wallet (which is kinda great because personally speaking, the “wallet” is rather empty after Santa comes…am’i’right?!)
These fun do-it-yourself New Year’s party decorations use up a lot of your Christmas stuff. But, even if you do have to go to the store for supplies, most everything you need will be on clearance! And this is all quick to put together – so if you’ve decided last minute to throw a get together, I’ve got you covered in that department too!
*You better just put your hands up right now ’cause I’m giving you a virtual double high five, my friends*
Tinsel Numbers
Don’t get your tinsel in a tangle!
Before you pack away the cheap shiny plastic-y tinsel-y stuff, grab an Amazon box (because we all know you’ve got a couple lyin’ around or a few more on the way!) and freehand block numbers 2-0-2-0 with a pen or marker. Make ’em big, make ’em small, make ’em whatever size you want! Cut out the cardboard numbers, hot glue some of that tinsel on top and you just made an awesome photo backdrop or fun table decor!
Bell Balls
Grab some clear, plastic ornaments and add a handful of little silver and gold jingle bells to make awesome and festive “Ringers” for the new year! These Bell Balls are perfect for little and big hands alike! Just make sure your ornament opening is large enough for your bells.
*Oh, and if you’re giving them to really tiny hands, a dab of hot glue on the ornament lid after you fill them up will ensure the bells stay inside the ball!*
Table Covers
Why buy plastic table covers when you can use the rest of that roll of wrapping paper to decorate your tables? Make it fun and festive while using up those remaining paper pieces so you don’t have to lug the darn almost-empty things up to the attic for another year!
Shaker Sticks
For the big kids, a jumbo popsicle stick (painted or plain) with different sized silver and gold jingle bells hot glued on and adorned with curling ribbon make loud Shaker Sticks that ring in the new year in DIY style!
Mini Wine Snow Globes
When entertaining a crowd, sometimes mini bottles of wine are the way to go. These cute bottles satisfy everyone’s palate preference by providing a variety of flavors for your guests. Plus, less wine waste at the end of the night! Put the tiny bottles in a large glass bowl, add some faux snow balls and flakes and watch your guests “oooooh” and “aaaaaaah” over your Mini Wine Snow Globe as you sit back and sip your lil’ miniature drink.
Wine Glass Stars
Using inexpensive and sparkly plastic ornament stars, you can personalize your glasses in a uniquely different way. Simply remove the string for hanging the ornament and cut the star in half using sharp scissors. You may need to create a small hole in the center of the ornament with your scissors if your glass stem is thick. Slide your stem through the cut section and gently pull the star back in place around the base of the glass.
In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, butter, egg, salt and vanilla as well as food coloring (if you are adding it).
Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until batter is light and fluffy. Approx. 2-3 minutes.
Add flour slowly.
Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Approx. 2-3 minutes.
Place dough in cookie press. Form desired shapes 1 inch apart on cookie sheets
Bake 6-8 minutes or until edges are slightly browned.
We prefer these plain, but if you desire a decorative glaze, simply whisk 1/2 cup confectioners sugar with 4 tsp of water. Brush glaze over baked cookies and top with colored sugar or sprinkles.
These Best Ever Sugar Cookies are literally a cookie par-tay in your mouth. They are the perfect balance of soft and chewy and are totally addicting. Perfect for cut-out cookie shapes or bars, trust me when I tell you, everyone will love these sweet babies!
Preheat oven to 350°. Line pan with parchment or baking mat.
Mix dough using stand mixer or hand mixer in order of ingredients above.*I suggest not doubling this particular recipe. It is thick and may be too hard on your mixers. Instead, make separate batches.*
Chill dough thoroughly. *Dough can be prepared in advance and frozen for use at a later date.*
Bar cookies: Evenly press dough on greased and floured sheet pan. Cut-out cookies: Flour counter. Using small portions of dough at a time, roll out to 1/4" thickness and cut out shapes.
Bake 10-13 minutes. Cookies will not look brown. If preparing bars in a large pan, baking time may require a few more minutes depending on thickness of bars.
Allow to cool completely on cooling racks before frosting.
Here’s the thing about fruit at Christmas- we already know fruit is good for you. But for a present? I mean, you could give someone the gift of a big ol’ fruit basket. And maybe they would love it – or, you could give them the gift of an awesome Sangria Jarfull of delicious fruit and wine. And they would totally crown you the “Best Gift Giver Ever In History”… I mean, I know the type of people I want to be friends with! (wink, wink)
And FYI – if you come to my home toting an adorable drink dispenser with all the necessary ingredients to make a homemade Sangria, you might as well buckle up buttercup because you’re about to be my Best Friend Forevah!
All it takes to make this gift of so much friggin’ glad tidings is one trip to the store and about 30 minutes of your time when you get home. Seriously, easy on your wallet and your time!
Glass Dispenser Jar – mine were purchased at Walmart
Wood Spoon (If there’s no predrilled hole, you will have to drill a hole in the handle or simply place the spoon in jar if you prefer to not drill)
Wine (white, red, whatever you or the recipient prefers just make sure the wine bottle fits inside the jar)
Fresh Cranberries
Oranges, Apples, Lemons and Limes
A small jar/can of cranberry juice or orange juice (optional)
For the tag I used a wood craft slice, a black and white printed recipe on regular printer paper from my computer made on Microsoft Word and a layer of ModPodge under and over the cut paper to adhere the recipe to the wood slice.
I have attached the recipe in a PDF format below. You may need to adjust the size before printing depending on the size of your wood slice (mine was approx. 3″ round).
This DIY Snowman Cocoa Jar makes an adorable and totally unique gift! Seriously, a super awesome Christmas present! Bonus – it’s crazy easy to make and a perfect addition to a festive holiday kitchen ❤️
https://youtu.be/5srE9YFXQrU
Gather your supplies, warm up your hot glue gun and buckle up because you’re about to make the sweetest hot cocoa display evah!
Using 3 different sized glass jars (candy jars, terrarium/air plant jars, etc) black buttons, a strip of cute ribbon and all the hot cocoa fixins, I created this adorably cute Cocoa Snowman in under 30 minutes!
These Snickerdoodler Cookies are a perfect blend of tangy cinnamon and sugar goodness.
Oh, and the name of these delicious delectable discs is not a typo. These cookies (traditionally known as Snickerdoodles) have always been referred to as Snickerdoodlers around here. Regardless of what you prefer to call them, they are so good, you can’t have just one!
Snickerdoodler Cookies
The perfect blend of tangy cinnamon and sugar goodness.
Just kidding. One of these recipes has glue in it, so obviously you won’t want to eat that one…
And the other ones are absolutely yummy amazing so clearly, the answer is to most definitely eat those!
The first recipe is for the most delicious homemade gingerbread you’ve ever had. The second recipe is for the cutest lil’ cinnamon gingie ornaments that are a perfect addition to some homemade holiday potpourri (also posted below).
Preheat oven to 375°. Prepare baking sheets by spraying with nonstick spray or lining with parchment paper.
Mix together dry flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon and cloves.*note* correct measurements make or break this recipe. Too much flour will make it dry and too little will make it too sticky. The best way to avoid this is by measuring the flour into a small bowl, sift it, then measure it a second time (chances are high there will be extra flour left over that you will not add back).
Using your counter mixer or your hand mixer, beat butter, brown sugar and egg until well blended.
Add molasses and vanilla.
Gradually add dry ingredients to mix until thoroughly mixed.
Using a floured work space, roll out small portions of dough at a time and cut with cookie cutter or simply add to a greased 9×13 sheet pan for a slab cookie.*note* working with smaller dough sections at a time is best for this recipe. Unlike sugar cookie dough, the gingerbread dough really can't be moved around much. By rolling out smaller dough balls, and only applying slight pressure with your floured rolling pin, your dough will be less likely to crack or crumble.
Space cookies approx. 1½ inches apart
Bake 1 sheet at a time for 7-10 minutes. 7 minutes will give you softer, chewier cookies. 10 will give you more of a crunch. Both are delicious!
Let cool and decorate with my Royal Icing recipe below.
Mix all of the ingredients together. A stand mixer works best if you've got one. You may need to add more powdered sugar if it's not thick enough or more milk if it's too thick until you've reached your desired consistency. This icing is perfect for piping your cut-out cookies!
Preheat oven to 200°. You can also omit the oven and let the ornaments air dry in a sunny spot for 4-5 days.
Stir together cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Mix in the applesauce and glue. Whip the mixture with your stand mixer or just your hands for a few minutes until a ball forms. If mix is too gooey, add more cinnamon. If it's too dry, add more applesauce.
Lightly dust your work surface with cinnamon. Roll out dough to approx. ¼ inch thickness. Using desired cookie cutter shapes, cut out dough and place on non-stick sprayed pans. Don't forget to punch a hole using a toothpick or skewer if you wish to hang them with ribbon or add a bow.
1cupdried orange & apple slicesYou can purchase them packaged and pre-dried. You can also slice your own oranges and apples and dehydrate them in a dehydrator or straight on your oven rack set at the lowest setting (250°) until dried out (about 2-3 hours) turning them every half hour or so. They will stick to a tray, which is why they should be placed directly on the rack.
1cupdried anise stars
1cupdried rosehips
1cup whole cloves
1cupcinnamon sticks
homemade gingie kids from recipe above
Instructions
Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl or container. Take a few really good sniffs to let the amazing scent settle into the depths of your nostrils. Potpourri can be set out in a bowl dry or placed in a pot of boiling water to simmer over the stovetop.For gift-giving, separate potpourri mix into smaller boxes or bags tied with ribbon for a perfect housewarming gift, hostess gift, Christmas gift or simple "Just Because" gift.
Notes
For an adorable Christmas addition, mix in my Cinnamon Gingie Kids (below) to the potpourri!
These trees are so stinking unique. Unlike anything I’ve seen at the stores and actually very simple to put together! Using a handful of easy-to-find supplies (some even straight from your backyard), you can make these rustic and adorable Lamb’s-Ear Christmas Trees too!
A wood slice, a stick, some twine, lambs-ear garland (dusty miller or eucalyptus both would look cute as well! I like anything that has a flocked-look), hot glue and floral tape are all the supplies needed.
*tip*: I have 8 kids. So Mama don’t have money to throw around (I also haven’t slept in over 18 years but that’s a whole ‘nother subject). When making anything faux floral, if possible, buy the garland instead of the separate flower sprigs. It’s less expensive for more of the same thing! This message brought to you by a mother that has perfected the art of penny pinching, dumpster diving and making crap from junk.
“Any way you want it
That’s the way you need it
Any way you want it”
Make ’em tall, make ’em wide, make ’em any way you want!
I made these for a stage presentation that lasted 30 minutes. I was done each time in about 15 minutes. Seriously. That quick. I wouldn’t lie to you, friends. I mean, who doesn’t love a quick Christmas DIY?!
Start with a wood slice. You can find these at the craft store already dried and clean, or you can find them in your backyard or local park or trail for free (especially if you have a wood-burning fireplace and a husband that is crazy about picking up every downed tree within a 25 mile radius of your home for free burning wood….) Find your stick (again, either from the craft store or from the backyard) and drill a hole into your wood slice the same width as your stick. Add hot glue inside your drilled hole to hold your stick in place – make sure it’s straight-ish.
Your stick height will be your tree height, so keep that in mind when picking out a stick as well as making sure you have enough lamb’s-ear for your project. I’ve made trees as tall as 28 inches high and 1 lambs-ear garland was plenty.
Next, you will want to measure (I use that term loosely. By “measure” I mean hold up your garland and figure out approx. how long each piece needs to be)
Using wire cutters, floral scissors or hedge clippers, cut the garland pieces to size. These pieces will be hanging upside down to create a more “tree” look, so make sure to leave an end piece of a few centimeters on each sprig for attaching to the base stick.
With a dab of hot glue, adhere each sprig to the stick. I typically use 3-4 sprigs around the stick.
If you get hot glue on your fingers during this step, I give you full permission to curse like a sailor if it makes you feel better. This here is a judgement-free zone. No one knows the feeling of 3000-friggin’ degree hot glue burning through the skin of your tender digits until they’ve actually had it happen.
Tip: Some trees I use only one tier of sprigs. Others I layer up 2-3 tiers for a fuller tree.
Once they are all glued on the stick, use the floral tape (in this case I used white floral tape to match the white stick) to secure the sprigs of lamb’s-ear onto the stick.
Cover up the exposed floral tape with a line of twine secured with hot glue.
This tree was made with a backyard stick and I love how it “leans” a bit. Not perfect, but totally cute. I also used 2 layers of lambs-ear for this one. A shorter layer on top and another longer layer underneath. The floral tape is hidden under the top tier. Both layers were attached in the same method described above, but I didn’t need to cover the second tier’s tape with twine since you couldn’t see it.
I also added a string of twine along 3-4 inches on bottom of some of the taller trees for an added layer of texture. With or without the bottom twine, they are pretty.
A pinecone hot glued on the top can be a fun addition to the rustic feel of these sweet things.
Have you ever had one of those days where you really want a piece of pie, but you really want a piece of cake, too? I was having one of these major dessert dilemmas the other afternoon. I mean, why the heck do we have to choose just one? I resolved this sweet tooth conundrum, combined pie and cake together, and now your Cake Cravin’ Autumn Lovin’ Pumpkin Pie Relishin’ Tastebuds will never be the same.
It all starts with a can of pumpkin pie mix. The rest is easy as pie. I mean it. This recipe is a real piece of cake. Goodness, the puns are strong with this one!
The best part about this recipe (other than its amazing flavor), is it can be served with or without frosting. Both finishes are yummy. But, if you do decide to frost the slab cake, make sure to use my homemade cream cheese frosting below the cake recipe!
Pumpkin Pie Cake Slab
This recipe feeds a crowd. It makes a slab (a sheet cake). Perfect for holiday get-togethers!
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease your 9×13 baking pan.
Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon together in a large bowl. Set aside.
Whisk the oil, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla and pumpkin pie mix together until combined. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and use a mixer or whisk until completely combined. The batter will be thick.
Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Baking times vary – the cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.*You may find you have extra batter left over after filling the sheet pan. I call this "Mom's Cake". It's just a smaller, extra cake that I prepare (typically a small 8" round), bake and stash away somewhere in the back of the fridge for a few days to snack on in secret. I have no shame.*
Using a stand mixer or handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. Add confectioners' sugar, vanilla and salt. Beat on lower speed for 30 seconds, then switch to high speed and beat for 2 minutes. *If you prefer a sturdier frosting, add extra sugar – 1/4 cup at a time – until desired thickness*
I know what you’re thinking – “dinner in a pumpkin? You’ve got to be jack-o-lantern-in’ me around!” Nope! I swear to gourd this is a real thing. And it’s totally awesome, my friends.
Before we hop into the casserole recipe nitty-gritty, there are actually 2 ways to make this meal. The first is for those who want the pumpkin look at dinner, but not the pumpkin taste. The second is for those pumpkin lovin’ peeps that can’t get enough of the orange stuff this season. Make sure you are following the proper recipe instructions for your preference!
1lbboneless chicken breastsshredded – I prefer to use cooked rotisserie chicken – de-skinned and shredded
1tspgarlic salt
1/2cupchopped carrots
1cancorn
1canpeas
1 ½cupsinstant white rice
2Tbspbutter
1 cupcheddar cheese
2Tbspcream cheese
1cupwater
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. The pumpkin will need to be placed on the lowest rack, so you will most likely need to remove the second rack from your oven for the pumpkin to fit lid and all.
Cut the top off the pumpkin and set aside. Make sure your opening is fairly wide to allow ample room for the casserole to be spooned out. Remove the seeds and insides of the pumpkin. You can carve a face on your pumpkin, but just make sure to line that side with aluminum foil so the casserole stays inside. Place pumpkin on a baking sheet covered in foil.
Cook and stir chicken, garlic salt and a bit of salt and pepper together in large skillet sprayed with cooking spray until evenly browned.
Add veggies, butter and cream cheese; stir. Keep over heat until thoroughly mixed.
Remove from heat. Stir in rice and water. (If you are NOT planning on baking the pumpkin, continue to heat the rice and water until the rice is fully cooked. Pour cooked casserole into foil-lined pumpkin and sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese generously on top. Serve immediately.)
Pour casserole into gutted pumpkin. Place cut pumpkin "lid" back on top.
Bake for 90 minutes on the lowest rack in the oven. Sprinkle generously with shredded cheddar cheese and let set for 10 minutes or so. You will have to serve the pumpkin on the baking sheet as they become very soft and easily break after baking.
Make sure to scoop some of the baked pumpkin off the sides as you scoop out the casserole!
Notes
Notes to Remember:If you are just using the pumpkin as a seasonal container and prefer not to cook it, line the interior of the pumpkin with aluminum foil and pour the completely cooked casserole inside right before serving.
I love projects that are inexpensive to make and help feed our wildlife, too.
What a perfect wreath to use on the front door in the autumn. Especially if you’re hosting a fall or Thanksgiving dinner. It would be adorable in the kitchen, too. Plus, this is a great use (other than baking) for those bruised apples you don’t want to just throw out but don’t know what the heck to do with!
Apple picking is such a fun fall family activity. But sometimes those cute little hands of those cute little people put apples in the basket that haven’t been inspected and aren’t so “cute”. Here’s a simple use for them that isn’t baking – not that there’s anything wrong with baking. My thighs and I can both assure you that we love to bake. This is just a unique and different idea. And for me, the only cost here was the apples. Everything else I had in the workshop.
Using an inexpensive metal wreath form, line the interior with fabric. I used burlap ribbon because it was already the perfect width, but any fabric would work really. (You could also skip this step totally if you are omitting the moss. The fabric adds a base for the moss to lay on.)
I used green floral wire to attach the burlap ribbon to the wreath form.
Hot glue the moss in clumps onto the fabric. It doesn’t have to be hot glued all over. Just enough to hold it in place. The apples on top will help stabilize the moss as well.
Taking heavy duty wire, push the wire straight through the apples at different angles so the apples lay imperfectly.
Once all the apples are on the wire, twist tie the wire to the back of the wreath. The reason we’re using such heavy wire, is because once it’s outside, this will ensure it stays together as long as possible.
I strategically wrapped grapevine twigs and wired burlap rope around the exposed metal wire to conceal it in the front of the wreath. I used green floral wire to hold the twigs in place.
Once the apples start to turn and bruise, take your wreath outside! Place it somewhere near a window so you can watch all the creatures enjoy it!
And make sure to save your wire wreath form once the apples are gone. You can always reuse it!
