Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Angel Ribbon Ornament DIY




Sparkly Ribbon Angel Ornament Tutorial




Click on the arrow on the left hand side of the screen to play.
If the screen is completely black, just refresh your page and it should pop up. To view my videos on YouTube, please go to: http://www.youtube.com/user/OneVeryHappyBird 

angel made with wired ribbon & jingle bell.


happybirdscraftinghaven.com

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Hot Cocoa Recipe N Hot Cocoa Bar DIY

Hot-chocolate

hot-chocolate-bar-ideas

homemade hot cocoa recipe

what you’ll need

makes 12-14 servings
  • 3 cups dry milk powder
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • ¼ cup chocolate syrup
  • ½ cup powdered nondairy creamer
  • ½ cup semi sweet chocolate chips, melted
  • 7 cups water

let’s do it

  • sift dry milk powder, powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt together in a medium bowl
  • add powdered nondairy creamer
  • pour 3 ½ cups water and vanilla extract into large cast-iron pot (or heavy bottomed stock pot)
  • slowly add dry ingredients to water, whisking constantly
  • pour in chocolate syrup and melted chocolate
  • add remaining water to pot and whisk until all ingredients are well blended
  • place on stove top and cook on low heat for about an hour; stir well and serve

hot chocolate bar setup

1. let’s get started

  • use a cast iron pot to make your hot chocolate and keep it warm
  • a cast iron pot will look gorgeous on display or can be kept on the stovetop to keep warm
  • your favorite hot cocoa recipe
  • hot chocolate recipe

  • 2. marshmallows!
  • dip marshmallows halfway in white (or dark chocolate for a decadent addition)
  • sprinkle with crushed peppermint while still warm
  • put in a bowl once cooled

3. topping your tasty treat

  • candies and small cookies  (M&M’s, Pepperidge Farm Pirouette Rolled Wafers)
  • whipped cream and caramel sauce
  • shaved white, milk chocolate and dark chocolate
  • Kahlua, amaretto and other liquors–kids aren't the only ones who can have fun!

4. sinful stirrers

  • melt chocolate then pour into fine-tip squeeze bottle
  • fill spoons with chocolate (keep level by propping the spoon handle until the chocolate has hardened)
  • sprinkle with edible glitter or small candies for extra flair

5. something to sip

  • create interest with your hot chocolate bar by using unique bowls and glasses

6. elevate your presentation

  • set up display of varying heights by using cake stands and serving trays
  • group toppings together, cups or bowls together, etc. to make serving easy

hot-chocolate-bar-ideas hot chocolate bar ideas

hot-chocolate-bar-ideas hot chocolate bar ideas

Friday, April 19, 2013

Homemade Peppermint Patties

Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Homemade Peppermint Patties
yield: 36 patties


Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, butter, peppermint extract, and cream. Beat them with a paddle attachment until the mixture comes together.
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Don't be alarmed if it looks like this at first--it will be dry and crumbly as you start mixing it.
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Turn the mixer speed higher and beat until the candy comes together and is light and creamy. When you touch it, it should be soft but not at all sticky. If it seems sticky, add a little more powdered sugar, a few tablespoons at a time, until it's no longer sticky. It should be very stiff, like Play-Doh.
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Scrape the candy paste out onto a long piece of cling wrap, and form it into a thin tube, about 1 1/2 inch in diameter. Wrap it well in cling wrap and twist the ends so that it stays in place.
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
This step is optional, but it's a nice trick I've learned. To keep your candy round on the bottom, cut a slit in an old cardboard paper towel tube, and put the candy inside. This will help keep the bottom from flattening as it sits in the refrigerator. This also works for rolls of cookie dough!
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Chill the candy until it is very firm, about 45 minutes. Once firm, use a large sharp knife to slice off rounds about 1/4 inch thick. You should get about 36 candies from this recipe.
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Melt the Melting Chocolate Wafers in the microwave. Melt in 30-second increments, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating.
Use a fork or dipping tools to dip a patty completely into the melted coating. (I like to drop it in, put the fork under it, flip it upside down, and then flip it again so the fork is on the bottom and bring it up out of the coating. I think the flipping method is easier than pushing the candy down into the chocolate and then fishing it out again.) Let the excess coating drip back into the bowl.
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Set the dipped peppermint patty onto a piece of parchment or waxed paper, and repeat the dipping process with the remaining peppermint patties. If they get too soft to dip, chill them briefly in the refrigerator until they're firm again.
Let the patties set at room temperature. The great thing about using Melting Chocolate Wafers is that they always set quickly at room temperature, and always produce a nice shiny coating! If desired, you can trim any uneven edges or "feet" from your candies once they've set.
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Store your homemade peppermint patties in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. These are so tasty, I doubt they'll last that long! You can also use them in baking recipes, just like you would store-bought patties. Try chopping them up and adding them to brownies, cookies, or cupcakes.
Homemade Peppermint Patties Recipe
Another fun variation is to change the flavor of extract to make different flavored centers. Try vanilla, almond, or coconut! You'll find that the creamy texture and chocolate coating goes well with everything.
http://www.ohnuts.com/blog/2013/02/homemade_peppermint_patties_re_1.html

Here are a few more great candy recipes from the Oh Nuts blog:
Almond Coconut Candy Bars
Almond Coconut Candy Bars

Dulce De Leche Cups
Dulce
De Leche Cups


Pumpkin Seed Caramels
Pepita Caramels
cherry-chocolate-heart-truffles

http://www.ohnuts.com/blog/2013/02/homemade_peppermint_patties_re_1.html

Caramels Homemade


IMG_7124.jpg

Step 1. Assemble the ingredients. Butter, white sugar, brown sugar, light corn syrup, vanilla, sweetened condensed milk, coarse sea salt, chocolate chips, canola oil, chopped nuts, & decorating sprinkles (not pictured)


Step 2. Cook the caramel.
  • Combine the sugars, corn syrup, vanilla, butter, and sweetened condensed milk in a microwave proof bowl. The bowl should be at least 2 quarts to allow for the caramel to expand as it cooks.
  • Cook it in the microwave on full power for 6 minutes (for soft & chewy texture) or 7 minutes (for firm yet still chewy texture), stopping and stirring thoroughly twice during the cooking time (every 2-3 minutes).* 
*TIP: ADJUST COOKING TIME FOR YOUR MICROWAVE WATTAGE
The recommended cooking times in this recipe are based on my 1100 watt microwave. If yours has a different wattage, you will most likely need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. (I found my microwave wattage on a label that is visible on the inside of the microwave.) Because microwaves vary, there may be some trial and error involved to determine exactly the correct cooking time. Click here for a cooking conversion chart for different wattages that I found online. I don't know if the chart is perfectly reliable, but it may give you some guidance in making adjustments.
Your caramels should be chewy and easy to eat--not a challenge to your dental work! If they turn out too hard, you need to reduce the cooking time. If they're too soft, increase the cooking time.
IMG_7126.jpg  IMG_7127.jpg
Step 3. Pour the hot caramel into a mold. I'll demonstrate 2 options.
OPTION 1 -- A Baking dish
  • Line an 8x8 baking dish with aluminum foil, making sure the foil extends up the sides. Coat the foil with cooking spray.
  • Pour the hot caramel into the dish and put it in the refrigerator until it is firm enough to cut, 40-60 minutes.
IMG_7135.jpg  IMG_7136.jpg
  • Remove from the fridge. The firmed up caramel will have taken the shape of the dish, so you can lift by the foil edges to remove the entire piece at one time. Peel off the foil.
IMG_7137.jpg  IMG_7166.jpg
  • Use a large knife to cut the caramel into whatever size you prefer. The photos below illustrate cutting 40 pieces or 24 pieces. If the cooking spray has made them too oily, blot caramels with a paper towel.
Hint: Put the caramel on a sheet of parchment or waxed paper for easier cutting and removal later. Otherwise, it may stick to the cutting board.
IMG_7210.jpg  IMG_7205.jpg
OPTION 2 -- Use mini ice cube trays for molds 
  • After microwaving the hot caramel, let it cool for 10 minutes so that you don't melt the plastic tray. Coat ice cube trays with cooking spray. Spoon caramel into the ice cube sections. I used a small scoop to simplify the task. One batch of caramel yielded 30 mini cube caramel candies.
  • Refrigerate until firm.
Click here for Amazon link to mini ice cube trays.
Click here for Amazon link to small scoop.
IMG_7128.jpg  IMG_7133.png
  • Remove from fridge and flip trays over, twisting and tapping until caramels fall out. I placed them on a piece of parchment paper to prevent sticking. If the cooking spray has made them too oily, blot caramels with a paper towel.
IMG_7139.jpg  IMG_7141.jpg
Step 4. Sprinkle generously with coarse sea salt. Press it in gently.
IMG_7214 (2).png
Step 5. Wrap individual pieces in parchment or waxed paper and twist the ends. Store in fridge or at a cool room temperature. Parchment paper worked the best for me--the caramels release easily without sticking. 4" x 3" paper rectangles are the perfect size for wrapping 40 lof these log-shaped caramels cut from an 8" x 8" square pan. Store in fridge or at a cool room temperature.
IMG_7215.jpg
Love that sweet & salty combo. Yum!
IMG_7220.jpg
Update about shipping: I had a question about shipping these in the comments section, and I thought this was worthy of mention here so you don't miss it. If you want to ship the salted caramels, I recommend the plain, log-shapped ones pictured above, individually wrapped in parchment paper and twisted on the ends. The wrapping helps the caramels keep their shape and keeps them from sticking together. I don't recommend shipping the decorated caramels illustrated below. They may lose their shape if they get too warm during the shipping process.
Here are some optional ways to add different flavors, colors, and textures to your caramels.
Drizzle with melted chocolate.
Add 1 tablespoon of canola oil to 1 cup of chocolate chips and microwave at 20 second intervals, stopping to stir each time, and continuing to cook just until melted--approx. 60 seconds total.
IMG_0854.jpg  IMG_5611.png
Drizzle on the chocolate with a spoon, or use a squeeze bottle. An alternative to the bottle is to put the melted chocolate in a plastic ziploc bag, push the chocolate down to one corner, twist the top of the bag, snip a small hole in the corner of the bag, and squeeze the chocolate out through the hole.
Click here for Amazon link to squeeze bottles.
IMG_7145.jpg
While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle on some coarse sea salt, if desired. Here are the ice cube tray caramels:
IMG_7144.jpg
And, here are caramels formed in the 8x8 baking dish and cut into 24 pieces:
IMG_7224crop.jpg
Add decorating sprinkles.
You can add decorating sprinkles in holiday or any theme colors.
IMG_7148.jpg
Add chopped nuts.
Add nuts for some crunch and yum. These taste like turtle candies.
IMG_7150.jpg
Make a variety.
Using the ice cube tray molds makes these uniform in size and shape. Add a variety of toppings and arrange them in a single layer in a small box. They'll look like they came from a candy store!
IMG_7158.jpg
Storage. Caramels are sticky and easier to remove if arranged so they don't touch each other and are stored on parchment or waxed paper. Wrap individual caramels in parchment or waxed paper or place in single layer on top of parchment/wax paper in covered container. Store in fridge or at a cool room temperature. They will lose their shape if they get too warm. Refrigerated caramels are too stiff to eat and should be brought to room temperature before eating.
Caution about paper candy cups: I tried inserting the caramels into 2 different kinds of paper candy (mini muffin) cups with mixed results. The caramels stuck to one kind and were impossible to remove without making a mess; but they released fine from the other. These foil ones worked the best of the ones I tried. Cutting small pieces of parchment paper to set them on works even better.
Here's the best part...biting into one of these gooey, chewy, creamy treats. SO, SO GOOD. Too good to be this easy!
IMG_7195.jpg
http://www.theyummylife.com/Microwave_Caramels

Christmas Grinch Punch

"Grinch Punch" with Sprite and Lime sherbet and Green Sprinkles/sugar rim. this would be fun the night we watch the movie &/or read the book!

"Grinch Punch" with Sprite and Lime sherbet and Green Sprinkles/sugar rim. this would be fun the night we watch the movie & or read the book!
blogs.babble.com

Chocolate Pretzels

Super easy! Christmas pretzels.
Super easy! Christmas pretzels.

houseonhilltop.wordpress.com

Christmas Tree Rubbermaid Stand

Using a Rubbermaid container to sit your Christmas tree in. This is sooo cute!
Using a Rubbermaid container to sit your Christmas tree in.
sewmanyways.blogspot.com

Santa's key for Jesus

This will be on our door this Christmas! Could be my most favorite pin EVER!!!Santas key for Jesus- Dear Santa, This magic key works just for you, Please open the door and come on through. Thank you for coming to our house tonight. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Thank you Santa for the gifts you bring. Thank you Lord for everything.
This will be on our door this Christmas! Could be my most favorite pin EVER!!!
Santa's key for Jesus-

Dear Santa, This magic key works just for you, Please open the door and come on through. Thank you for coming to our house tonight. We are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Thank you Santa for the gifts you bring. Thank you Lord for everything.
crochetedspiderweb.blogspot.com

Random Acts of Christmas Kindness



 I didn't want to make this RACK activity about “blogging” it … I wanted to be truly “present” with each activity and the girls, so instead of bringing my camera and worrying about blogging shots … I’d grab a random iPhone photo when I could.
Some of our activities included in the photos below:
  • Taping candy canes to ATM machines around town
  • Bringing the girls riding instructor {and barn manager} hot cocoa and a muffin early one morning
  • Taping quarters to vending and toy machines around town
  • Grocery shopping for the sole purpose of putting it in the “Food for Families” box in the entryway of the store
  • Feeding meters around town {and lots of fun explaining to the girls what “feeding” a meter meant!}
  • Donating 72 stockings with treats, candy and a craft for second graders at a school in need
  • Ringing Salvation Army bells
  • Handing out Starbucks gift cards {$5.00 value each}
Some of our activities without photos:
  • Paid past due library fees for 5 people
  • Donated a poinsettia to the girls school
  • Bought and donated toys for “Toys 4 Tots”
  • Brought the girls teachers their favorite Starbucks drinks
  • Brought treats to the employees of our local Post Office branch
  • Purged from the girls personal “library” and donated to a school library in need




Originally, our plan was to hand out flowers at the mall, but the day before this RACK was planned, CJ had his company program and shared with everyone how we were celebrating the Advent season … that they “were about to be RACK’ed” … and had the girls go through and hand out Starbucks cards to everyone.  We had a ton left over, so decided to hand them out at the mall instead of flowers.
I have to tell you … I experienced an incredible surge of emotion and thoughts as we were handing them out.  Either people were so shocked and happy, or people would ignore us, shaking their heads and walking by.  As people were ignoring us … or more significantly, the girls, I made a solemn vow to grab whatever anyone was trying to give me from now on!
http://tsjphotography.com/blog/random-acts-of-christmas-kindness-summary/