Monday, January 21, 2013

Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cups in a Muffin Pan!



While Little Dude was recovering from Croup and cutting his first three teeth I had a lot of time repinning items on Pinterest, as he would only sleep on Mommy.  My first Pinspiration comes from fifteen spatulas' Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

I think the whole original idea of this recipe is to make them healthier than regular peanut butter cups, but of course, I had to try it with my favorite Reese's creamy peanut butter! I also used my dairy, soy, gluten, nut free semi-sweet chocolate chips.  I know they sound horrible, but they are amazing!  I let my husband (who's not gluten free) taste them once.  Big Mistake! We can't keep them in the house, we eat them by the hands full.

I am not great at measuring out things or following recipes to a T.  Call me a rebel.  I took a bag and half of the chocolate chips and melted them in my handy dandy chocolate melter.  Forget the double boiler or the microwave, get a chocolate melter, you will never go back.  (It also comes in handy for fondues).

I placed the cupcake wrappers in my muffin pan and poured in enough chocolate to cover the bottom the wrapper.  I shook the pan around a little to flatten out the chocolate.  Then placed the muffin pan in the freezer for 15 mins.

While my chocolate was originally melting by itself in my chocolate melter, I blended a 1/2 cup of Reese's Peanut Butter, two tablespoons of butter (I'm dairy free, except butter), and sminch of powdered sugar in my hand blender until it was really creamy.

Next, I took out the muffin pan out of the fridge and added the peanut butter to the top of each one.  The original recipe says to "drop the pan on the counter" a few times to get the peanut butter to flatten, but baby was sleeping, so I shook the pan.  Then placed the muffin pan back in the freezer for what was supposed to be 15 mins, but about 5 mins in, baby woke up and had to nurse him.

So after about 35 minutes, I pulled the muffin pan back out and added the top layer of chocolate and stuck it back in the freezer.  15 minutes I pulled the peanut butter cups out of the freezer and they were devoured by my husband and his brother, who had been drooling over them during the whole process.  They were amazing!!  I definitely will make these again.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Chili Cornbread Skillet

My family goes bananas every time I cook this meal. I got this recipe years ago from Parents magazine and I always make it during winter. So enjoy and Bon Appetit!

Chili-Cornbread Skillet
Prep 5 min
Cook 11 min
Bake 20 min 400 degrees F

Ingredients
1 green pepper
1 1/4 pounds ground turkey
1 can chili seasoned pinto beans ( I use Bush's bbq beans!!)
1 box corn muffin mix
2 eggs

It's Showtime..!!
1. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. In a 10-inch oven-proof skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add green pepper; cook 5 minutes. Stir in ground turkey, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper; cook 5 minutes, breaking apart with a spoon. Stir in beans and heat through. Remove skillet from heat.
2. Stir 2 tablespoons of the dry corn muffin mix into mixture in skillet. Pour remaining corn muffin mix into a medium-size bowl. Add eggs and 1/4 cup water. Stir until well combined. Pour over chili mixture in skillet (it may not completely cover). Top with a twist or two freshly ground black pepper.
3. Transfer to oven and bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, or until top is firm and lightly browned (chili may bubble over edge). Let cool 5 minutes before serving.

This recipe is brought to you by The Baby Goddess Boutique

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Southern Chic Naturals: Easy Valentines tree and stuffed paper hearts


Easy Valentines tree and stuffed paper hearts

                 

Materials for stuffed hearts:
Scissors
Glue
Yarn or string
hole puncher
tissue paper
patterned stock type paper
pencil

Materials for Valentines Tree:
Sticks from your trees outside or store bought twigs
White spray paint
White Tissue paper
clear flower vase



How to make Valentine's Tree:
Pick branches from outside or buy some from your local hobby lobby store. (I got mine from fallen branches outside)
Spray paint your branches white, let dry.
Get your clear flower vase and stuff with White tissue paper very tightly.
Stick and arrange your white branches into the tissue paper and Viola!


How to make your stuffed 
Valentine's Hearts:
1. Gather all your materials

2. Choose a piece of stock paper that you want to make your hearts out of.

          3. Depending on how big or small you want your hearts to be you may have to cut your paper in half like I did.
          4. Once cut, slip each folded have into each other. This will give you the two sides you need to stuff your hearts.
                               5. Draw half a shaped heart as in the picture and cut your hearts out.
          6. Place your hearts flat and hole punch a hole in the middle where you'll put your string through.
7. Next get your glue or any form of sticky tape (I use one for scrap booking) and put glue around the edges of one side of your heart. Make sure to leave a little room without glue to stuff your heart.
8. Once you have your glue around the edges, get your other side of your heart and press them together. Again make sure you leave a space without glue open to put your tissue paper through.
 



9. Tear small pieces of tissue paper and make into balls. Stuff your hearts with the tissue paper using the opening you didn't put glue on. Once finished glue the part closed. Get your string and cut as long or short as you want. Feed through the punched hole you made earlier and tie a knot.

10. Hang all your stuffed hearts on your Valentine's Tree and the finished product will look like this!
You can also add other items to your tree as I did by simply cutting out hearts and stringing them. You can also put pink glittered pines cones to added a flare to your tree. The skies the limit!
  
 

This blog post was brought to you by:

Friday, January 4, 2013

Salt Dough Ornaments


Salt Dough Ornaments

These ornaments are the PERFECT gift!  They are great for Valentine's Day, but can also be wonderful for Mother's Day, Easter, Birthdays, or for any holiday!  They are especially great for grandparent and other family gifts - or for anyone who loves your little one as much as you do!





Here's what you need to get started:
4 cups of flour
1 cup of salt
Water (I used about a 1 1/2 cups - amount varies)
Oil - for lightly greasing your cookie sheet
Food coloring (optional)

A Large Mixing Bowl
Cookie Sheet
Small rolling pin
Skewer or straw
Ribbon
Paint (optional)

This makes about 5 toddler sized ornaments


First, gather your ingredients.  I find when working with toddlers - it helps to be prepared ahead of time!


Next, mix the flour and salt together in a large mixing bowl.  Add a few drops of food coloring to your water.  I used 2 cups of water and 6 drops of pink food coloring.  Gradually mix the water into your dough by hand (don't forget to take off your rings - I always forget!) until your dough is moist, but not runny.  

Then, lightly oil your cookie sheet.  I put a little oil on a paper towel and rubbed the cookie sheet.



Roll your dough into small balls.  This helps get smooth edges on your ornaments.  Then gently press the balls flat with your hand.

Then roll each one smooth with the rolling pin.  This step may or may not be necessary depending on how smooth you got your dough in the first place.  My little one LOVES the rolling pin, so we went with it!


After we had our flat, round circles I gently pressed her hand into each one.  Make sure to press each finger down so you get the full imprint.  Don't push all the way through!


Then I took a skewer and made to little holes in each one.  I'll thread a ribbon through there later.  I made four handprints and one paw print of our dog... LOL.

Then set your oven on the lowest setting (ours is 170) and bake for about an hour.  You can also let them air dry for 24 hours.  Once the are dry and cool you can paint them or leave them alone.  We decided not to paint ;)  Then just thread your ribbon through!



I had to use the skewer to poke the ribbon all the way through.  Then I double knotted the ribbon and tied a bow.


ADORABLE!


HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY


This blog post is brought to you by Gooba Gear and The Gooba Diaries