Tuesday, March 20, 2012

strawberry peach banana smoothie

Who else loves smoothies? I love making smoothies, and it is my boys favorite breakfast. I just throw some fruit (whatever is in season), yogurt ice cubes, and some juice into my blender and in seconds I have a delicious healthy treat!

I've started buying the big containers of yogurt (I like vanilla) and freezing it in ice cube trays! I just spoon the yogurt in, freeze, and pop them out and store them in a freezer baggies and when I am ready to make a smoothie... Vuala! It is much more inexpensive than buying the frozen smoothie packages at the store and you can stop throwing away yogurt because it's expiring and freeze it!!

Strawberry Peach Banana Smoothie
1 banana, broken into chunks
handful of fresh strawberries
1 peach, cubed
4 yogurt cubes
1/4 c strawberry, orange, mango juice

Put everything into blender and blend until smooth and serve. You might want to add more or less juice depending on how thick you like your smoothie!!

Monday, March 19, 2012

ooey gooey caramel popcorn

I love popcorn and what makes it better... caramel!! I like mine really sticky and gooey, the kind you have to lick off your fingers!! If you like yours a little firmer just boil your caramel longer :)

1 cube sweet cream salted butter (1/2 cup)
1 cup light corn syrup
1/2 bag (1 lb) dark brown sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add corn syrup and brown sugar. Bring mixture to a boil. Once boiling mix in sweetened condensed milk. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until mixture almost reaches a soft ball stage... I like mine a little softer so I cook it until it's about 220 degrees. Pour over one large bowl popped popcorn. I use 2 bags microwave popped popcorn and make sure to takeout all the unpopped kernels. Use more or less popcorn depending on how much caramel you like on your popcorn. ENJOY!!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

edible chocolate play dough

I got this recipe from my sisiter and made it for my boys, it is so fun!!

This is a fantastic recipe especially if you have a toddler and can't keep things out of your child's mouth, at some point it may be a good idea to teach them to not put everything in there! This smells wonderful but does not taste good.

1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup salt
1/2 tablespoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 tablespoon oil
1 cup water

Mix dry ingredients in a medium size pot. Add wet ingredients and stir together over low heat until a ball of dough forms. Remove play dough from pot and knead by hand until dough is smooth and evenly colored. Store in airtight container.

disposing bacon grease

I love to cook with bacon but I always struggled with how to get rid of the leftover grease.  I came up with idea and it was as easy as 123!!