Because it's the Holidays...
Because I know you've got things to do...
Company parties to attend...
Sunday school gatherings...
Christmas shopping to wrap up...
and because I love ya...
Showing posts with label child. Show all posts
Showing posts with label child. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Saturday, February 9, 2013
Baking Tip
Granny and I were talking the other day about baking and how instantly forgetful we can be. You know you've done it! When you get ingredients out and begin tossing them in a bowl and lose count on the sugar. Was that six-quarter cups full to make one and a half cups of sugar or was that five? Or a half panic as the decadent Hummingbird Cake goes into the oven... I forgot to put the pecans in the cake mix!
While I am sure there is some fancy ingredient ap on those fancy phones everyone but Shaun and I own, I obtained my tip from the one and only Julia Child. I received The French Chef (one and two) DVD series for my birthday and pop them into watch while I am in my kitchen at least twice a week. A week or two ago she was baking her Queen of Sheba chocolate cake and threw a tip at me. Place all of your ingredients out on a tray or cookie sheet before you begin baking. Go ahead and measure out the flour and other dry ingredients in separate bowls. I know these steps take more time but really it adds to the fun and I know for sure I have everything out and measured before I begin.
I tried this last weekend when I made a cake for the BBQ place. And Lord knows I look for any excuse to use my enamel trays I adore so much! I have mentioned my enamelware fetish haven't I?
Anyway, I did just as Julia said and guess what... the pecans were in the cake this time. Just as the recipe calls for. If you are going to bake, try not to get in a hurry and enjoy the entire process and if you make the proper preparations you shan't forget or mis-measure a thing!
The next step in this baking tip is to remove the ingredients from the tray and put them away as you use them. Put the empty bowls in the sink and the vanilla bottle in the cabinet. That way when you think you are done and you look over at your tray and something is still there..... guess what? It's not too late to add it because the cake has not entered the baking zone yet. Brill Julia... brill.
This tray is stained from another place in time before I got it. But it is old and I love it! I hadn't exactly premeasured at this point nor does it look like I had the flour out. But I promise you, it did happen and it took a teeny bit of stress out of the whole process because I knew I wasn't going to forget a thing.
While I am sure there is some fancy ingredient ap on those fancy phones everyone but Shaun and I own, I obtained my tip from the one and only Julia Child. I received The French Chef (one and two) DVD series for my birthday and pop them into watch while I am in my kitchen at least twice a week. A week or two ago she was baking her Queen of Sheba chocolate cake and threw a tip at me. Place all of your ingredients out on a tray or cookie sheet before you begin baking. Go ahead and measure out the flour and other dry ingredients in separate bowls. I know these steps take more time but really it adds to the fun and I know for sure I have everything out and measured before I begin.
I tried this last weekend when I made a cake for the BBQ place. And Lord knows I look for any excuse to use my enamel trays I adore so much! I have mentioned my enamelware fetish haven't I?
Anyway, I did just as Julia said and guess what... the pecans were in the cake this time. Just as the recipe calls for. If you are going to bake, try not to get in a hurry and enjoy the entire process and if you make the proper preparations you shan't forget or mis-measure a thing!
The next step in this baking tip is to remove the ingredients from the tray and put them away as you use them. Put the empty bowls in the sink and the vanilla bottle in the cabinet. That way when you think you are done and you look over at your tray and something is still there..... guess what? It's not too late to add it because the cake has not entered the baking zone yet. Brill Julia... brill.
This tray is stained from another place in time before I got it. But it is old and I love it! I hadn't exactly premeasured at this point nor does it look like I had the flour out. But I promise you, it did happen and it took a teeny bit of stress out of the whole process because I knew I wasn't going to forget a thing.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Valentine Wreath of Love Kiddo Style
Because February begins tomorrow and because Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I though it best to share a piece of kiddo decor from the DC. We started our day with a little girl time and really girlied up a piece of cardboard for our entrance.
We cut a good-sized heart that I free handed (it doesn't have to be perfect) and cut it out. Next I drew another heart inside this heart and cut it out also, you know... to get the wreathy effect. Then, we took apart some $1.00 flower bunches and only used the pedal parts and glued them all over our big heart! We used the rest of the flowers and decorated the smaller heart for my helper to take home with her. We let them dry for a lil bit, then I carefully punched a hole and tied a piece of yarn to the heart and fancily taped it to our door.
It's amazing (not to mention slightly tacky) what a a couple of bucks can turn into with a little creativity!
Goodbye January!
We cut a good-sized heart that I free handed (it doesn't have to be perfect) and cut it out. Next I drew another heart inside this heart and cut it out also, you know... to get the wreathy effect. Then, we took apart some $1.00 flower bunches and only used the pedal parts and glued them all over our big heart! We used the rest of the flowers and decorated the smaller heart for my helper to take home with her. We let them dry for a lil bit, then I carefully punched a hole and tied a piece of yarn to the heart and fancily taped it to our door.
It's amazing (not to mention slightly tacky) what a a couple of bucks can turn into with a little creativity!
Goodbye January!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Simple Santas
This was absolutely the simplest of crafts. I have needed more boxes for bathtub shelves lately (thank goodness!) so we have had plenty of them at the day care to play in. When I box up a shelf I have to completely man-handle the box, cut it and make it fit because our shelves are made to order.
That being said I had quite a bit of scrap cardboard. So I cut a simple oval-ish piece for both kids for Santa's face. Then I cut out the hat for them from red construction paper and tore strips of newspaper for the beard. The boys suggested the crayons on their own. So they used glue sticks and colored and pasted. I think they turned out great.
I love these. They are so simple and require very little yet filled the spot called "craft time" in our day. I get some of the sweetest pictures of these kids. This one is one of my favorites.
Even though I can't have children of my own, I have been blessed and am continuing to be blessed by the children in my life.
there... i said it.
That being said I had quite a bit of scrap cardboard. So I cut a simple oval-ish piece for both kids for Santa's face. Then I cut out the hat for them from red construction paper and tore strips of newspaper for the beard. The boys suggested the crayons on their own. So they used glue sticks and colored and pasted. I think they turned out great.
I love these. They are so simple and require very little yet filled the spot called "craft time" in our day. I get some of the sweetest pictures of these kids. This one is one of my favorites.
Even though I can't have children of my own, I have been blessed and am continuing to be blessed by the children in my life.
there... i said it.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Christmas Tree Suncatchers
Y'all... I came up with this one all by myself! I promise. This morning when I was cutting out big Christmas trees for the kids to glue paper cut out ornaments on, I said "wouldn't it be neat if you could see light through these?" And one thing led to another and before you know it, there was one hanging in the kitchen window. You can do these with children or by yourself. Either way... you're going to stand back and say "that is so cute."
And now.. I will silently work my magic.
Isn't that just precious? I am sure they would look equally as pretty on the Christmas tree itself with the lights shining through. Thanks for playing!
And now.. I will silently work my magic.
Isn't that just precious? I am sure they would look equally as pretty on the Christmas tree itself with the lights shining through. Thanks for playing!
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