Tucking your seeds into bed?

3.29.2011


Have your supplies ready
Dampen your Carton
Fill your sections half way with soil

One of my lovely assistants

Making labels

Planting our seeds

Such cute little hands!

You can't deny how fun this cheap little craft is!

Almost done!

We decided to do a quick spray before adding the last layer of soil

Ready to grow!


Awww Spring is in the air. And nothing says spring like planting veggies & herbs. Today's craft was made with the help of my two wonderful girls. Where most kids get bedtime stories, tonight my girls got a bedtime craft!

Supplies:

- Cardboard egg carton
- Potting soil
- Seeds
- Spray bottle
- Popsicle sticks
- A pen
- A spoon ( or just your hands)

Directions:

This is such a fun and easy craft to do in your spare time. Why cardboard egg carts? Well not only do you re-recycle an already recycled paper but when it's ready to be planted in a larger pot you can STILL continue to use them... but we will get into that more when our plants begin to sprout.

Part One:

Get 6 Popsicle sticks and break each in half. You should now have 12 halves. Label each with the name of what you plan on planting. (don't worry about making them super fancy. In the second part of this tutorial I will show you some fun ways to make labels.)

Part Two:

1. Start by ripping the top of an egg carton off and using the bottom (where the eggs once sat) to plant your seeds in.

2. Using your spray bottle, spray your egg carton with water till the entire carton is dampened but not soggy or puddly.

3. Next using a spoon or your hands,  fill your carton sections half way with soil. Leave room to add seeds and a top layer of soil.

4. Lightly spray your first layer of soil with water.

5. Add your seeds. Only a few per section. Then label each as you go so you don't forget what herb or plant is what.

6. After all your seeds have been added and labeled, top with the second half of your soil. 

7. Spray your plants again with water, but do not drown them

Tips:

Keep seeds in a well lit area and away from any cold drafts. Mist plants with spray bottle often. Do not drown your plants just keep soil lightly moist.

Don't just limit it to herbs. You can also do this with veggies, fruit, and flowers!

This project is fantastic to get the kids into. It can even make them more eager to try new foods knowing they helped grow the herbs!

These supplies are very cheap. The carton was (with eggs) $1.50, the seeds about 4 for a $1 (walmart or dollar tree), soil $1-5 depending on size (dollar tree has soil) Spray bottle $1(dollar tree or walmart) Popsicle sticks - any craft store, mine were $1

Later I will show you what you can do with your plants once they have begun sprouting... Look for part two to this tutorial in about 7-10 days!

Hope you Enjoy!

All Natural Fruit Roll Ups

3.26.2011



This is the fruit I used in my first batch. Beautiful isn't it!

Lightly simmering and starting to reduce some.



Ready to put in the oven!
 _______________________________

With so many snacks out there loaded with sugar and questionable ingredients it's hard finding something healthy, tasty, AND convenient to eat.This recipe is 100% all natural and 100% tasty.

Ingredients:

- 1 to 1 1/2 flat fresh strawberries (about 48 oz) - Chopped
- 2 cups Apple Sauce (Or like in the picture 1 basket of Blackberries)
- 3 TB Organic Honey
- 1/2 a Lemon - Squeezed

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 150 degrees F. Or if your oven is like mine 170 degrees (at that temp it just requires a little bit more attention)

2. In a blender, processor, or mashed by hand, add lemon juice, fruit, and honey. Puree till completely smooth.

3. Add pureed fruit to a cooking pot and cook on med heat till it begins to boil. Then reduce heat to low and cook for about 20-45min. Till thickened, and reduced some. (Be sure to stir often. We don't want to burn the fruit)

4. While the fruit cooks prep two cookie sheets with parchment paper. (I very lightly sprayed my pans first with a bit of pam. I find that it helps the sheet from sliding around.

5. Once your fruit has thickened, equally distribute your fruit mix onto the two cookie sheets. I used a measuring cup to make it more even. Your fruit should be evenly spread out on the sheet making sure that the fruit on the sheet isn't thin in any places. (it makes it impossible to peel later when you're eating it) You can give it a gentle shake back and forth on the counter to even and distribute it more.

6. Place the cookie sheets in the oven for about 8 - 10hrs. at 150 or 170 degrees. Keep oven on for 35 min then turn the oven off. Do NOT open the oven. Allow to sit for about an hour then repeat this process again and again till fruit has become tacky to touch. Allow to completely cool. Best to sit for several hours. Then cut them in desired sizes and roll up! Store in air tight container.

Not thrilled about all the on and off from the oven? Honestly a few of my batches I forgot the fruit and turning the oven off when I was suppose to. You can also just allow your fruit to cook for about 5-6hrs straight or till tacky to touch. Just be sure to check on your fruit as to not over cook it and make it brittle.

Tips:

- This recipe is endless! The measurements really depend on how much you want to make. Just be sure each cookie sheet is filled with a nice amount, not being too thin

- Try using canned, fresh or frozen fruit. 

- Raspberries, bananas, nectarines, apricots, apple sauce, cherries, mangos, you name it! Add cinnamon, cloves, or your favorite for extra spice!

- Vegan? Sub the honey for Agave Nectar, Raw sugar, or no sugar at all.

- Did you cook your fruit too long and now it's become a bit brittle? It's possible it can be saved! Carefully trim the ends where it's the most brittle. Then wet your hands (don't pour on) and rub them lightly over the fruit evenly moistening the fruit. Then allow to dry. Cut and store as suggested above. You might even be able to use a water bottle. Just mist lightly. (I used my hands). This saved an earlier batch of mine.

Hope you enjoy!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

3.16.2011


Who doesn't love to pamper themselves with a special treat like chocolate covered strawberries! I'm sure most of you probably already know how to make these but for those of you who don't I thought I would go ahead and make you a blog... since I was already making these yummy babies anyways.

Ingredients:

One basket of Strawberries - washed, dried and tops cut (if desired)
Microwavable melting chocolate in milk chocolate and white chocolate. ( I generally use almond bark and mine come in a large flat bar or brick they also make then in pre-measured bowls)
4 tsp. Vegetable shorting (Crisco)
a sheet of wax paper.

Directions:

1. Ahead of time place a piece of wax paper over a cookie sheet.
2.In a microwavable friendly bowl add 3-4 squares of milk chocolate. You can also do this on the stove, just I prefer the microwave.
3. Heat 30 seconds at a time. Stirring after each time till chocolate is melted. (do not try to melt too long at one time, your chocolate WILL BURN)
4. Add about 1-2 tsp. shortening to chocolate and stir. The shortening helps with making the chocolate creamier and I think makes a smoother covered strawberry.
5. Place coated strawberries on the wax paper, finish coating strawberries and allow to harden.
6. While your waiting for your strawberries chocolate to harden, start heating your white chocolate the same way as the milk chocolate. Again adding 1-2 tsp. shortening to melted chocolate.
7. Using a spoon, a cake baster, or a ziploc bag (filled with the white chocolate and a small corner cut) swirl the white chocolate over the strawberries. Just enough to give color.
Allow to harden and enjoy! You can also place these in the frig to cool if you just can't wait another moment!

Tips:

Reverse the chocolates making white with milk chocolate topping it.
Get real fancy and top with crushed peanuts, shredded coconut, mini chocolate chips, crushed oreos, or a mix of several! Just be sure to add those toppings to the chocolate while it's still warm. After it sits a moment you won't be able to add extra toppings.
I use a fork on the cut side to dip the strawberries. Dip it at an angle so the strawberry doesn't constantly fall off your fork. Adding the shortening also helps with dipping and not being too thick.
This is a fun and easy treat to get the kids involved in too!
Also don't just limit it to strawberries! Try dipping pretzels, marshmallows, cookies, biscotti, gram crackers, dried fruit etc...

Share your favorite dipped treats with us. Enjoy!

Beer Bread - Yum!

3.14.2011


This is a recipe I have been wanting to try for a while and I'm thrilled I finally did! This bread is extremely easy to make. Very moist and perfect spread with butter. For those of you who don't drink beer, fret not, it's completely different baked. It's also children safe as the alcohol in it is baked out.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour (in Colorado I used a high altitude flour)
1 TB. Baking Powder
1 TB. Honey
1/2 ts.  Salt
1/3 cup Brown Sugar - Packed
1 (12 fluid oz.) can or bottle of Beer or Ale
1/2 cup Butter - Melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x5 in. loaf pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all- purpose flour, whole wheat flour, honey, brown sugar, salt, and baking powder. Mix well. Then pour in beer, stir until a stiff batter is formed. It may be necessary to mix dough with your hands. After mixed well scrape dough into prepared loaf pan. Then pour melted butter over top of the dough.
3. Bake in oven for 48-55 min depending on your oven, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Mine was perfect at 48min.

Makes about 12 servings.

Notes:
-Want to mix up the variety? Try adding dill, cheese, or garlic...
-My favorite is adding 1 1/4 tsp. Italian Seasoning, 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder, & 1/2 tsp. Onion Powder to the dry mix before adding the beer. Mix well.
-The beer or ale you use will change the flavor too! I prefer the taste of Blue Moon. It's not too heavy. I've also heard ale makes for a better taste than beer but try your fave and let me know how it works for you!
-Not much for beer? Try replacing the beer with sprite!
- Don't just eat it with butter! Also try a bit of honey on top or serve with shredded beef and gravy for an amazing open faced sandwich! Yum!


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