Paper Pleasing Ideas

Stress Free Suppers !!

Ok, this is not a card post, but it is something that has helped me tremendously.

I used to always struggle to make suppers, at the last minute defrosting meat, or worse yet, eating out!! I had been doing some researching online about menu planning and stuff like that, after seeing all the ideas on Pinterest .  I decided to try them out.

This was after a lot of thought, since we are mennonites and we have a certain style of cooking. Like everything is handed down from generation to generation and we pride ourselves on that. Well, I took the plunge, but not before I searched for a coupon code on google and got it for half price with a Groupon !!

For $24 (regular $49 - still a great deal) I get a weekly menu emailed to me, including the recipes AND SHOPPING LIST !! It comes on Friday, so I can shop on Saturday, and we are good to go for the week. This has cut my groceries bills to an average of $70CD for all of us for supper for the whole week. It does give you the estimated cost you would spend in US$, and even per meal per person.

The true test came with the eating - THEY DELIVER !! Even my kids do not complain and they have never ate so many different vegetables in their lives. I have been using it for about 6 weeks now, and not one recipe has been repeated - not even one. It even has the nutritional values chart for each meal.

They have the Classic Weekly Menu (what I have), the Vegetarian Weekly Menu, and the Gluten Free Weekly Menu. No, this is not a paid advertisement, they have NO CLUE who I am. I am just a very satified customer wanting to help my friends with whatever I can!

The Fresh 20 - my supper time hero ! 

Lunch Hero

Do you want to be a lunch kit hero for your kids? I had a brain wave the other day and my kids went NUTS for their sandwich (and  kinda liked it too, hehehe).

Ok, so it seems super easy, and I may be the only one in the world who had not thought of this before. Lightly spread Nutella on 2 slices of bread. If it is too thick, the flavor is overwhelming. Then add some sliced bananas on top and sandwich together. They will not put this done, and they may even have to fight you for it.  Enjoy!!

Cake With A Story

Toy Story 3, actually! After Russ passed, my niece wanted to do something for the boys. I said sure, cause she said it had to do with CAKE, and I knew the boys would share *wink, wink*. From what I understood, she was going to bake a cake and hide the movie inside. That didn't work, so here is what she did instead.

 

Sorry, for the bad picture, but she brought it when I was not home, and the boys went to town on it. This is her photo. There are some toys on the top, but most of them are made of fondant! See the dog in front? On the other side of the cake is his butt ... hehehe, like the slinky goes through the cake. She did such a good job, and Dylan and Jayden were in love ♥. Thanks Amanda!

 

Strawberry Fun

When Russ was still at home, I had to think of fun things to do with the kids that were not normally done. I found doing the same things just got old for them (and me), and we couldn't always leave to get away from it all.

 

I let them do the dunking of the strawberries, while I tend to do it for them oversaw, and melted the white chocolate chips. I had to give up my anal/perfectionist tendencies for this project. I used Wilton Candy Melts, so they harden right there on the counter, no need for the fridge. After this part, they wanted to lick the bow and I did the finishing touches.

 

All I can say - YUMMO !! I put the white chocolate in a little baggy, cut the corner off and squeeed the piping on the starwberries. So easy, and what a tasty little treat.

Almond Bark Gift Bag - With Tutorial !!

Jayden had his last day of school on Monday.  I needed to whip up something for a teacher gift, that did not look last minute would look FABULOUS!  So, I devoured the internet for something quick and came up with almond bark!  So easy to do, tastes great and looks like you spent a ton of time in the kitchen.  I did a step by step, so you could make some too!

I chose the Dairy Milk chocolate bar.  You can buy a box of 24 at Costco for $17 here in Canada, but any PLAIN milk chocolate bar will do.  I set up my double boiler station and started it boiling.  While I waited for it to heat up, I chopped my almonds (small handful), and took the wrappers off 10 chocolate bars.  That is about 1 lb of chocolate, and this will be enough to fill 4 bags.

Break the bars into the top of the double boiler, and start to stir.  It will not take long to melt everything, maybe 5 minutes!  Make sure to keep stirring until everything is smooth!

When it is all liquid, you can pour it out onto a baking sheet that is lined with a silicone baking mat.  THIS IS IMPORTANT.  Spread out the chocolate evenly.  Now, you can sprinkle your almond pieces over the top.  I also added some Skor bits for a little bit of flavor.  So far this has taken you about 10 minutes, but now you need to grab a book.  Put the pan in the fridge and wait 10 minutes or so.  By then it should be all cooled off.  Or you could go play Bejeweled Blitz on facebook, and forget about it for a bit longer.  It really doesn't matter, it is not going anywhere.

And the fun begins!  The silicone mat makes it easy to peel off the almond bark, and then you can break it into pieces.  Doesn't that look FABULOUS ?!?  Let me tell you that it tastes pretty awesome, too ... hehehe.  So now it is time to package it all up.

I used the same Island Floral Die as in THIS TUTORIAL, and attached the brad through the ribbon.  That way, the flower will stay on the ribbon, even when they untie it.  The leaf is also from the same die.  I added a Thank You tag with the Think Happy Thoughts set (retiring soon!  #115092), and used my Tag and Small Tag punches (#105934, 108264).  That's it, and it looks FANTASTIC !!  Tootles, have fun and happy stamping!!

 

Skewer Tutorial

This tutorial doesn't have much in the way of crafting, but a ton in the way of creating a new way to eat!! My kids LOVE fruit, but I still wanted a way to keep them excited about eating it. I got this idea from the skewers of veggies that we BBQ, and figured it would work with fruit, too.

Grab the fruit that you have around.  I chose ones that will not brown after you cut them, since I do enough at one time for a few days worth of lunches.

After you chop them up into KID bite-sized pieces ~we do not want big chucks, choking is no fun!  Then grab some lollipop sticks and a skewer.  You can use skewers for all the fruit, but I don't like sharp pointy objects in my kids lunch boxes!  I only use the skewer to poke fruit that the lollipop stick won't pierce, like orange slices and grapes.  I have honeydew, watermelon, oranges, grapes, and kiwi.  Other choices can be strawberries, cherries, cantaloupe, banana, etc.  Remember, though, that browned fruit is not so appetizing!!

 

I will send a bit of fruit dip along or yogurt, if I have any on hand. But the change in presentation, and the fact that they get so many different kinds is enough to get them eating.  With this size of stick, they receive 2 for each meal.  It is just as enjoyable for us big kids too *wink, wink*.

  
 

The "Most Delicious" Cinnamon Buns

Here is the recipe I promised you.  You can go HERE for the how to on cutting them, but we have to make the dough first.  Though it is pretty easy, be prepared to block out about 3 hours of time, to include rising the dough.

Cinnamon Buns

• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup oil (I use olive)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 package active dry yeast (or 1 tablespoon)
• 4 cups flour
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• enough flour for table top
• 1 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 cup brown sugar
•  2 rounded tablespoons cinnamon

Add the milk, oil and sugar to a pot and heat until just BEFORE boiling.  Take off the burner and let cool (about 45 minutes).  The stir it up a bit and add the yeast on top.  Let it sit for 1 minute and add the 4 cups of flour.  Mix until just combined, cover with a warm towel and let it sit in a warm spot for one hour.  While you are waiting, place the butter brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.  Mash together with a fork until everything is well combined.

When it had risen, add the rest of the ingredients (1/2 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and soda, and salt) and mix until thoroughly combined.  Yes, the flour amounts are right.

Roll out the dough on a WELL floured surface, making your rectangle twice as long as wide.  Then spread your butter mixture evenly all over the top, leaving about 1/2 inch from one edge for pinching it shut.  Then roll the dough towards you.  See the diagram below :

 

Now you can cut the roll using THIS TECHNIQUE.  Place them in a buttered, or non stick sprayed baking sheet.  Let rise while the oven heats to 375F.  Bake for 15-18 minutes.  Remove and enjoy!

I started with Pioneer Women's recipe, but adapted it a bit.

"No Squish" Cinnamon Buns

Works like a charm EVERYTIME !!

Hearty Vegetable Soup

I needed a soup that would warm us up, be filling, but not break the calorie bank.  I am still not at my goal (they say the last 5 are the hardest to lose, but I am determined!!), so I am helping myself out.  I created this soup myself, and Jayden calls it Pizza soup, since that is what your house smells like when it is cooking ... lol.

  Hearty Vegetable Soup 

3 large carrots, peeled and sliced
1 onion, diced
3 garlic cloves,minced
3 sticks celery, sliced
1/2 green pepper, diced
2 TBSP butter
5 cups beef, chicken or vegetable broth (I use beef)
1 can green beans, drained
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 tsp basil
1/4 tsp oregano
1 star anise
pinch of pepper / salt to taste

2 heaping TBSP hemp seeds (optional)
1/4 cup minute rice (optional)

Melt the butter in the bottom of a large pot. Add the first 5 veggies in stirring occasionally until they start to go soft, appr. 5 minutes. Add in the broth, the can of tomatoes and spices. You can add the green beans straight from the can, but I chop mine up , so the kids don't see them. I add the hemp seeds for protein and fat and rice for some carbs, but they are not necessary.

The leftovers are great heated up, or I even eat it cold as a snack.

SUPPOSED To Bake Cookies

But then I got too lazy, so I did this instead ... hehehe

Yep, the boys were much more excited about these anyway.