Back to School or Fall Time Treat

tI won't say I jumped for joy that the kids went back to school but when my youngest and I came home from dropping off the older two to school I did do a little ceremonious dance.  It was a fun but long summer and I think we were all ready for a change.

With some free time and only one little helper we got started on a fun treat we saw in Family Fun Magazine this month, Apple Cupcakes.  No healthy whole wheat and chopped apple muffins but apple decorated cupcakes.

I needed to make some cupcakes for an upcoming birthday and thought I would use some of the batter to make these treats for the kids.

I happened to have mini muffin red silicon wrappers so we improvised slightly.  If you search on line I am sure there is a source for red paper liners which would be a better choice if you wanted to serve them somewhere other than your home.

1) Bake cupcakes in red liners

2)After allowing the cupcakes to cool, cover with red tinted frosting.

3)Roll in red sprinkles:

4)Make a stem out of a rolled out tootsie roll-simply cut with kitchen shears

5)Cut leaves out of flattened green starbursts.  (if they are not fresh, place them in the micro for a few seconds).

I also made a few large cupcakes in the yellow liners I had, you probably have these at home.  Frosted them with yellow tinted frosting and a larger sprinkle. ( I think they look better with the sugar but I used what I had)

If I had any gummy worms I think that would make a cute touch or even a fun april fools prank!

So whether you are celebrating the kids back to school or a fall day give these cupcakes a try the kids will won't refuse to eat this fruit!!

Peanut Butter Pie

I was offered a large ziploc bag of crushed chocolate graham crackers from a camp this summer.  I thought I would make a pie crust with them.  However thinking of the best compliment to that was a little tricky.  I began googling chocolate graham cracker crust and did not find that many recipes, mainly using oreos or regular graham crackers.

Finally I came upon this Peanut Butter Pie recipe that I thought would taste much better on a chocolate crust than regular pie crusts.  If you love peanut butter there is a good chance you love chocolate too.

I decided to add a little more indulgence by adding chocolate sauce over each slice.

The kids loved this.  I thought it could have used a little more peanut butter flavoring and this might have been a result of not having crunchy peanut butter.  Also I should have crushed the crumbs in the food processor a little finer than when I received them.  Feel free to use a pre made one from the grocery store!!

When making the crust it is helpful to use the bottom of a glass or measuring cup to help spread the mixture.

Peanut Butter Pie

Graham Cracker Crust--I used chocolate grahams.
8 Oz pkg cream cheese softened, I used the 1/3 less fat
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1  tbs milk
12 ounce carton frozen whipped topping, thawed

Bake and cool crust.  In  a mixer bowl, combine cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar and milk until well blended.

Fold in 8 ozs of the whipped topping. Pour into crust.  Spread top with remaining whipped topping.  8 servings.

Big City, Small Budget...money saving ideas for your next trip

The family and I were away for a few weeks in my hometown and I did not get to creating any posts, I was taking a "blogcation" I guess.

 It is crazy to think I was a tourist in my own hometown of Chicago this summer but the kids are of the age to visit these fun places.

The key however was not to spend much money doing it, or at least try not to.
I believe the following  tips will serve anyone well as they venture out sightseeing in a city not their own.

Hotel:

1) Location, Location:

list all the attractions you are interested in seeing and map them out.  If they are in a general location pick a hotel that you won't spend hrs in the car or money in cabs.  

2)IF traveling with a family look for hotels that offer breakfast.  We stayed at the Embassy Suites because my husband had Hilton reward points.  They offer a happy hour as well, so mommy was able to unwind with a beverage and the kids thought they were being spoiled by drinking Shirley temples...

3) Research the best hotels for children and always look online for deals b/f booking.  The second hotel we stayed at offered several amenities for children.  When we got there they were not forthcoming so I had to call down to get them.  We were given children's robes, a sweet treat every afternoon, board games, crayons etc.

Attractions:

1)Look online for discount tickets for any of the attractions you are interested in.  Chicago and many other cities offer Go Cards or City Cards that have various levels of attractions to purchase at a discount.  As well as other discounts.  My daughter was able to get a free American Girl Doll photo with a $20 purchase.  We knew we were going to buy something there so this was a bonus.  The picture retailed at $24.

2) Look at your memberships you have in your own city to museums and see if they have reciprocal relationships to the museums at your destination.  It may be worth joining just for that trip.  My science museum membership cost 75 dollars, to go into one museum in Chicago it was $50 but we got into it free with our Richmond membership.  Plus we had 3 other spots we could go.

3)Many museums have free days as well.  Look online at each attraction to find this information out.  It may be a little more crowded but you can't beat the price.

4) Restaurants also have deals.  I happened to look up the address to a restaurant we were interested in and they had a website.  Discovered they offered a recession dinner deal.

5) Also look on line for free concerts, festivals and firework shows available in many cities over the summer.

Transportation:

1) If the weather and city location allows use the cheapest means of transportation, your legs.  You really can take in all the sights, smells and scenes of the town you are visiting. Plus you might discover something you would otherwise miss in a cab.

But look online to see if the transit authority of that city offers daily or weekly passes.  It may be worth it.

Wherever your travels take you, be sure and take lots of pictures and don't feel bad about being a tourist!!!

Love to hear any of your travel tips

Review of Palm Plates-biodegradeable

When I received the email asking for people to use and review Marx Food Palm Plates I was quick to respond.  I have never heard of such a product and always willing to try something new and different.

When the box arrived I must admit the first smell was a little much.  The smell of the product boxed up and in the heat made me wonder what my food would taste like once placed on them.

I let them air out for  a while then put them away for a bbq I was having in a few weeks.  Well the bbq came and went and I was so bummed when I opened the cabinet that held them and saw them sitting there.  I wanted to use them for a realistic event so when the kids were having Buffalo, NY night I thought what better than wings and hotdogs to test out these plates.

They stood up to the slop of the wings and did not bend like paper plates do.
I thought about rinsing them for a second time just to see if it would work, well the red of the wing sauce stained.

Here was another test of endurance the kids and I performed while clearing the table!!

It passed!!

Then came the bowls, I knew they would do fine with dry food items but could you really eat soup or chili.  How about Ice Cream.   The kids had no problem agreeing to test this challenge.   The only complaint was I can't get all my fudge sauce...
There are small groves in the plate but my daughter also likes to lick her bowls of dessert!!

I put some water in the bowl to see how long it would last and there was no spillage, even after accidently folding the rim.  I was amazed that even after cracking the rim, not ripping it off, the water did not drip out.







Overall conclusion::
These bowls may be a little more expensive but a good investment for the environment.  Try them at your next party.

Check out the website:  Marx Foods
Their website also details how they are made Marx Foods

Blueberry Salsa

I made it to the Blueberry patch for a second time this summer.  The kids most have had too much the first time because I still have some in my fridge from a week ago.

However, I took a recipe suggestion from some friends who went picking with us the first time for Blueberry Salsa.  I know it sounds kinda of strange, I mean Peach salsa you see on the shelves but I have never seen blueberry salsa.

I looked at the one my friends made and loved and saw another one that had more of the ingredients I had on hand.  This one does not have tomato so it is truly a blueberry dish.  I made a full batch and 4 of us finished it off.
It is a taste you have never experienced but wants you going back for more.
I served it with tortilla chips and it was just the perfect compliment.

It asks for chopped blueberries; I started using a potato masher. I quickly realized I was making a ugly mess of skin and mush so I cut them, not an easy task but the hardest part of this recipe.

Recipe I used

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped fresh blueberries
• 1 cup whole fresh blueberries
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeno pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 1 fresh lime, juiced
• salt to taste
• I added cilantro to taste I think it made it more salsa like

1. In a bowl, combine chopped and whole blueberries, jalepeno pepper, onion, red pepper, lime juice, and salt.
2. I allowed it to sit for a couple of hours to have the flavors meld

Recipe Suggested by friends

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Maine-Wild-Blueberry-Salsa/Detail.aspx

Ice Cream Party and Ice Cream Recipe #4

I know I challenged myself to make a ice cream a week in July, although I am posting this in August I made it over the weekend!!

At the beginning of the summer my children each wrote a wish list of things to do over the summer.  My littlest guy requested a Ice cream Party.  When I knew we were having another family over for dinner I decided to give him his party!!

I really talked it up saying we would have make your own sundaes and just bought a few toppings and sauces.  I also bought vanilla ice cream.  I decided to make the adults homemade ice cream as a treat.  Triple Chocolate Ice Cream....

I even let the kids have a little bit...I made it the morning of and it was a little soft at serving time but delicious. 

  Loving my Kitchenaid Optional Attachment - Ice Cream Maker attachment. I love that when I make homemade ice cream I know what is going inside of it.  I used organic dairy products and even sugar I had on hand...for a fraction of the cost of store bought organic that is hard to find.

Even the adults took part in the build your own party...we are all young at heart.

2 cups whipping cream, divided 

2 squares (1 oz. each) semisweet baking chocolate, 

cut into chunks 

2 squares (1 oz. each) unsweetened baking 

chocolate, cut into chunks 

2 cups half-and-half 

1 cup sugar 

1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

8 egg yolks 

4 teaspoons vanilla 

1/8 teaspoon salt 

4 bars (1.55 oz. each) 

milk chocolate, chopped (about 1 1⁄2 cups) 

In small saucepan, place 1⁄2cup whipping cream, 

semisweet chocolate, and unsweetened chocolate. 

Heat over medium-low heat until chocolate melts, 

stirring frequently. Remove from heat; set aside. 

In medium saucepan over medium heat, heat 

half-and-half until very hot but not boiling, stirring 

often. Remove from heat; set aside. 

In small bowl, combine sugar and cocoa powder. Set 

aside. Place egg yolks in mixer bowl. Attach bowl and 

wire whip to mixer. Turn to Speed 2 and gradually add 

sugar mixture; mix about 30 seconds, or until well 

blended and slightly thickened. Continuing on 

Speed 2, very gradually add chocolate mixture and 

half-and-half; mix until well blended. 

Return half-and-half mixture to medium saucepan; 

stirring constantly, cook over medium heat until small 

bubbles form around edge and mixture is steamy. 

Do not boil. Transfer half-and-half mixture into large 

bowl; stir in remaining 11⁄2cups whipping cream, 

vanilla, and salt. Cover and chill thoroughly, at least 

8 hours.   

Assemble and engage freeze bowl, dasher, and drive- 

body interface as directed in attachment instructions. 

Turn to STIR Speed (Speed 1). Using a container with 

a spout, pour mixture into freeze bowl. Continue on 

STIR (Speed 1) for 10 to 15 minutes or until desired 

consistency, adding milk chocolate during last 1 to 2 

minutes of freeze time. Immediately transfer ice cream 

into serving dishes, or freeze in an airtight container. 

Yield: 16 servings (1⁄cup per serving).