Apple Butter Spice Muffins

Apple Butter Spice Muffins

1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp ground allspice

1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/4 cup apple butter

1. Preheat over to 400 degrees. Line 12 standard(2 1/2 inch) muffin cups with paper baking cups.

2. Combine sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice in large bowl. Toss 2 tbsp sugar mixture with pecans in small bowl and set aside. Add flour, baking powder and salt to remaining sugar mixture.

3. Whisk milk, oil and egg in medium bowl. Stir into flour mixture just until moistened.

4. Spoon 1 tbsp batter into each prepared muffin cup. Spoon 1 tsp apple butter into each cup. Spoon remaining batter evenly over apple butter. Sprinkle evenly with reserved pecan mixture.

5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean. Immediately remove from pan and cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Serve warm or cool completely. Makes 12 muffins.

From Fall Baking 2011

Gerber Daisey Cookie Favor

Here are my most recent cookie favors for my niece. She is combining hot pink and orange in the bridesmaids bouquets. She loves Gerber daises so we combined it all in this cookie favor. What do you think? Will be making Back to School cookies next week and I will have pictures and a tutorial.

Card Inserts

So I needed a little something to insert in cards. Here's what I came up with for an anniversary where one spouse is gone. Sort of an I remember and my thoughts and prayers are with you today. I printed them out, laminated them so they could be used as a bookmark. The other one is just to go in a birthday card and who wouldn't want to see the smiling face of their grandchild each time they open book :) That's all for today.

Drowning in Peaches

After peach picking with the girls we had a whole lotta peaches...many of which had the skin coming off just from the ride home from the orchard...that's how ripe they were. We also picked the "doughnut" peaches but the real name is Saturn Peaches. They were still slightly under ripe but after a week now are unbelievable. So after debating how to preserve them decided just to peel each peach and cut into 8 pieces, place on a cookie sheet, cover with wax paper and freeze overnight. Next morning put in a freezer Ziploc to enjoy over the winter when you can't buy a juicy peach like this for any amount of money. I mostly use them for peach crisp or smoothies so frozen slices are perfect! The smell was incredible as I was cutting them...one piece for me...one for the tray...so looks like I may have to go back to the orchard soon to get a few more before they are all gone for the season!

So the peaches are sliced and on their way to the freezer overnight. I put wax paper over first...keeps them from getting freezer burn. Yum, yum...I can taste them already this winter!

Finished and ready for the freezer!

George Foreman Tip Sheet

If you have the George Foreman Gill or any of the other similar grills here's a great tip sheet with times for various foods...http://tipnut.com/grilling-sheet/ Not only does it give times but also additional tips. Great resource!

Elmo Cupcakes

Are these not the cutest ever? Cupcakes frosted with Elmo Red and accented with orange gumballs for the nose and the eyes are the white candy melts with a Reeses Pieces on top. Mouth is half of an Oreo cookie. I have seen ones with all icing but they are for kids and I think they would enjoy the cookie and candy parts better.

Homemade Foot Soaks

Foot Soaks for Mother's Day Gift

Okay, it's really simple and fast...both criteria for a last minute gift.

Mix in a large bowl:

1 1/2 cups Epsom salts

1 1/2 cups Kosher salt(that's the one with big grains)

1/4 cup baking soda

1/4 cup cornstarch

Open and add 4 bags Chamomile tea

1/8 cup dried parsley or other herb of your choice

This can be put in smaller containers but I used it to fill 2 jelly jars. I'm covering the top with a pretty blue fabric and tying with ribbon. Attaching a hang tag that states- Use 2-3 tablespoons per gallon of water used in soak. Water temperature is a personal preference but I like it as hot as I can tolerate to give me the most Ahhhhhhhhh feeling!

NOTE: You can also add marbles to the bottom of the basin to rub your feet over while soaking!

I will post a picture of the entire gift later today when I finish everything.

First Communion Bracelet

Here's the 1st Communion Bracelet I just finished for a special little niece of mine. She is using purple (her favorite color) in her party theme so I wanted to incorporate that into her gift. I have not had any jewelry classes, just read online mostly, so I know if I can do this you can too. After searching for bracelets for a child this age it seemed like the common size was 6-7 inches total with many having a few links attached to extend the size.(below you can see the extension on the left hand side)

Bracelet Instructions

To string the beads I used Silver Plated nylon coated wire. I explained at Michael's what I was trying to make and this was their suggestion. I had no trouble with the wire going through any of the bead holes and yet it seemed flexible yet strong. The brand I used was Beadalou, Silver Color, Size M, .018, 15 foot.

I did break down and invest in a crimping tool. I tried to use my husband's pliers and it would catch part of the bracelet I didn't want to crimp...IMHO worth the money.

Now for the other supplies:

A & B were from an assortment at Michael's...Bead Boutique. Not an expensive set but gave me the purple color I wanted to accent the bracelet. (Pink is shown in the picture as I used all I had to make the bracelet.) Need 4 of each kind.

C: Above the clasp and below the cross-Clasp(1 set), Cross-Need 1

D: Silver glass beads. Act as spacers to give some definition to the pearls and other beads.

E: Pearls( not real this time, maybe when she is older:) Need: 10

F: Crimp beads- This is what you put on to keep the wire in place at the end of each side of the bracelet. You use the crimper to "smash" the bead. Need 2

Finally the "silver" alphabet beads: I choose "silver" but they do come in "gold" and white with black letters. The less expensive ones come in packages with all letters mixed. If you are buying real sterling or silver you can purchase the individual letters. I have only seen these online.

Measure desired length plus 3-4 inches. Slide crimp bead then wire through one side of clasp. I prefer to start with the smaller piece as it is easier to handle the larger one at the end. Now thread it back through the crimp bead, push the crimp bead up as close to the clasp as possible and crimp with the crimper. Congratulations, you're on your way to a beautiful gift!

Now thread the beads in order as in photo. Be careful not to release your hold on beads or you will be restringing. Since I began at the smaller end of the clasp I put on one pearl, then the 4 extra links for expansion, pearl(P), silver glass bead(SGB), P, SGB, P, Smaller Lavender(SL), P, SL, Alphabet Letter (AL), Large Lavender(LL), AL, LL, AL, LL, AL, LL, AL, SL, P, SL, P, SGB, P, SGB, P, Cross, P...now here's the final part. Put on a crimp bead, run the wire through the other side of the clasp...loop the wire back through the crimp bead and the pearl. Crimp the crimp bead and cut the remaining wire to end under the pearl. DONE!

Edible Tea Cups

Edible Tea Cups are just the thing for a children's party or even a favor at your next dinner. You could always substitute the kid favorite treats inside the cup for Lindt chocolate, Hershey Kisses, etc. which would certainly make for a more "grown up" treat. Go on...you know there's a Tea Party calling your name! Full directions here: http://family.go.com/disney/pkg-disney-recipes/recipe-842698-edible-teacups--t/

Palm Sunday Crosses

Here are my crosses made from the Palm Sunday. This year I brought them home and soaked them in water for 24 hours before I made them. That way they were more pliable. After folding and tucking I left them overnight to dry and cut the small amount of extra off. Still trying to decide if I want to add silk flowers or not. What do you think? Below is the link for step by step instructions to make your own cross.

http://www.kidssundayschool.com/Gradeschool/Crafts/1craft08.php

Easter Bread

I always make Easter Bread on Good Friday but thought I would post this early so maybe some of you will join me. It is delicious to have toasted with butter for Easter Morning. I have seen it made with pastel colored eggs too( the dough wrapped around one egg...sort of like the egg is in a nest of bread) but I usually just leave them as is...white. Let me know what you think!

Good Friday always means Easter Bread...

enough to give out after dinner!

Easter Bread

2 pkg active yeast

1/2 cup warm water(105-115 degrees)

1 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

2 tsp. salt

6 eggs

1 1/2 cup sugar

8-9 cups flour

Sprinkle yeast into water in large bowl. Scald milk: Add to milk the 1/2 cup butter and salt, cool to luke warm.Beat eggs & sugar until light and fluffy. Add milk mixture to eggs and stir into yeast with wooden spoon. Put milk/yeast mixture into mixing bowl and use dough hook to incorporate flour. Start with 3 cups and stir in enough additional flour to make soft dough that leaves sides of bowl. Either turn out onto floured surface and knead 8- 10 minutes or use kneading hook on mixer, adding extra flour as necessary or until smooth and elastic. Put in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm place free from drafts for 1 1/2- 2 hours or until doubled. Punch down and let rest 10 minutes. Shape into loaves. Brush with egg wash. cover with PAM sprayed wrap. Let rise 45-50 minutes. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Brush with butter after baking. I made 8 braids from this recipe.

Spring Flowers You Don't Have to Water

On my way to try out these beauties on the diningroom table... doesn't look too hard and I do have an assortment of napkins just crying out to be used.


Want the directions directly from Martha click here:
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.0e0eb51a2e6b5ad593598e10d373a0a0/?vgnextoid=28b22e912b11f010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=napkins&rsc=image_7

Candy Carrots

Needed a few last minute gifts for Easter and with very little time to shop came up with these "Candy Carrots" filled with Easter Candy Corn, Hershey Bars in Pastel Foils and Hershey Kisses. Would have used Jelly Beans or M & M's if I had them but still think they came out cute. Used the tag signed from the Easter Bunny and ribbon I had left from other crafts.

Making Your Own Peeps

In case there is a PEEP shortage any time in the future here's the link to make your own.

http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Making-Marshmallow-Chicks/Detail.aspx?lnkid=1932&ARBMID=1461&ARFMTID=1

Senior Gift Idea

Even though these are listed on EBay from $20-$25 I found them at Tuesday Morning and Marshalls for approximately $6.00. I was looking for something to send to two elderly relatives who are in the middle stages of Alzheimer's. At 80+ years old what can you possibly send to a loved one for their birthday. Finally I decided the sense of touch is so strong and soothing I wanted something "SOFT" and were these ever. I made a little card to go with it about sending a hug and both of them now take them to bed each night in addition to holding them in their lap during the day. They were so soft it was hard to send them on their way! Don't forget to take off the baby tag!