A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

My sweet girl cherub. Her birthday was a month ago. But we finally had time to celebrate with friends this month. Well, one month from the day, exactly! She's been a great sport about the delay. She created a plan and we were ready  . . . but then I broke my foot. Which changed the plan. Being her sweet self, she was happy with the change of plans. The girls learned to use almond bark to make different treats. Actually, I keep almond bark and simple ingredients on hand. It's super easy if you need to make something for kids coming over to the house. Or if you're having a quick gathering, and you want "a little something sweet." What about saying, "thank you" to someone who's been helpful to you? A treat bag of bark is an easy homemade gift that people love! The girls picked a partner and each "team" made a different bark. They all turned out great! The one I really wanted someone to try, didn't get ...

Lately, the Mr. and my girl cherub are having to pick up a little more of the chores around the house. OK -- so maybe all of the chores! Cooking, cleaning, laundry, packing lunches. Everything! Over the weekend, I fell and broke my foot. It didn't sound like it was any big deal with the doctor at the ER, but my Monday follow up visit shed a wee little different light on the situation. So I'm still cooking . . .from the living room. The Mr. says, "ok, what's next?" and I tell him what to do with the recipe. It's been kind of interesting, but everything, so far, has turned out just great! After dinner the other night, he kept asking if there was something he could make. I couldn't think of anything simple, but I dreamed up this little treat that I knew would be easy. This little gem of a treat has me thinking about all the things that can be created with almond bark! The girl cherub made brownie bites for a school project tom...

It's the holiday season . . . and it's time to bake! Who doesn't love the change of routine that the holiday season brings? True, it can be crammed pack with shopping, and decorating, and wrapping, and parties. But it can also be full of laughter, and family, and friends, and memories. This morning, while the cherubs were busy with school, I was busy about the house. Sometimes, when I'm cleaning, I try to think of other things to do. Today, while I was doing both of those things, I thought about making a little treat. A treat that would use the white chocolate bark I bought. 3 packages of that stuff! I had absolutely no idea what I was going to use it for, but I've been busy coming up with solutions! Today, I melted a package of it and scooped out these little crunchy treats! I think next time I will add a cup or two of mini marshmallows to the mix! If don't like something in the recipe, just leave it out and add a littl...

It's turned nice and fallish around here and we have enjoyed the perfect days! We have opened the windows. We have watched the deer come into the clearing on our land. We have started searching for our favorite fall recipes. My sweet girl cherub got the notion to make peanut butter bars. Since it was Halloween evening, and we needed a little treat, we grabbed the ingredients and made these delicious bars! These are great because they require no baking and they're quick! If you like Reese's, then you're going to love these!  I say, "so long" to buying those peanut butter cups; these are a classic snack treat! Peanut Butter Bars 1 /4 cup butter, melted 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy) 1 1/4 cups confectioners sugar 4 full-size Hershey chocolate bars, melted (or 1 cup melted chocolate chips) To the melted butter, add the brown sugar and peanut butter and stir until well co...

The Mr. and I were in Charleston a few weeks ago. He went for a meeting . . . I went to relax. It isn't often that the two of us get away without the cherubs. We took advantage of returning to a city that we love! When we were first married, we lived in Columbia, SC. Charleston was a little over an hour away and we were young, childless, and spunky! We would get in the car with our dear friends, Clay and Amy, and we'd spend the day in Charleston. Much hasn't changed in 20 years in the city of Charleston: The market is still the place to shop, the restaurants are still amazing, and the time walking the battery and enjoying the beautiful surrounds is still relaxing. We always loved getting pralines when we were in Charleston. There's something about that buttery, brown sugary, pecan treat that is purely the best! While we were on this trip, we walked by the store front every day that offered a free sample! If they were giving, we were g...

It's a 4th of July Celebration! My girl cherub has been making plans for a week now of things to make; both food and decorations! She's made the spread sheet, gathered ingredients, secured craft supplies and borrowed some much needed accessories and décor from a friend of hers. That would be a grown up friend of hers who knows how to throw a party! Last night, it was like a party company delivery at our house! The patriotic bunting, baskets, and other goodies were dropped off to help my cherub achieve the best 4th of July party ever! My cherub found a sweet snack treat on the internet and used the recipe as a guide for her own snack mix.  The jar she is serving it in is one of her entertaining creations too; thank goodness for google!  It's an endless supply of ideas!  She modified that too, and it's worked well! For the jar, that she's using to serve a patriotic drink in, she dipped the rim in white dipping chocolate then rolled it in red and bl...

    While looking through cookbooks, trying to make my grocery list, I saw this recipe.   I remember seeing it a few years ago and thinking, "that might be good."   But I never made them.   Until this year.   I thought, "this might make a great gift."   I bought the stuff and followed the recipe.   And had a small mess on my hands! The "new" crockpots must be hotter than the "old" crockpots.   Because in less time than the recipe called for, my chocolate was beginning to burn.   But I didn't know it until I went to stir my chocolate.   Then discovered that I may have ruined the whole thing.   But thankfully, I hadn't!   I just scooped out the good stuff; left the bad stuff and went on about my business!   The only down-side:  the recipe said it would yield 8 dozen.  I only got 5 dozen .  . . but I'm not complaining!   White Chocolate...

If ever there should be a marriage, this is it. Candy Corn and Peanuts. It was meant to be. Promise! It's the best of two worlds: Nasty Holiday Candy and Dry Roasted Peanuts! In no other recipe would you mix the two. But here, it works! And if that's not enough. It's a science of two great elements! And you have to find the right concoction that fits best with your taste. For me:  2 to 1. 2 candy corns to 1 peanut. I line them up on the counter in their little family groups. And if it turns out with an uneven mix, I'll fix it. 2 candy corns to 1 peanut. Always! I only allow one bag of candy corn and one container of dry roasted peanuts into the house during the Fall. When it's gone . . . I cry! 

A long time ago, there was a lady who made peanut brittle. It was her "Seasonal Job!" Once her kids were out of school and she had done it as long as she wanted, she made her last box of peanut brittle and handed the wooden spoon to me! Now it's my "seasonal job!"  I've already been perched at my stove this week, stirring and smelling and waiting for the hot syrup to "spin a thread."  Once it does . . . . we end up with a table full of thin, golden brittle that has just the right amount of peanuts!  Box and after box line our kitchen table, ready to be delivered!  The cherubs used to help me get the boxes ready for the brittle. It's amazing, though, this year they're both so busy with school??!!?!  However, neither one of them seem to be busy when it's time for a "quality control check!" Look at that super-yummy, incredibly thin and perfect piece of brittle! If you're in my area, it's not...

Look into my crystal ball . . . .  . . . what do you see? Halloween Candy Bark! Yummy! Making bark is the easiest thing in the world to do!  You can mix just about anything into the melted bark and POOF !  You've got a new creation! Halloween Candy Bark 1 package white or chocolate almond bark 3 cups pretzels, broken 2 cups candy corn 15 Halloween Oreo's, broken into pieces (I didn't use them because I couldn't find them!) sprinkles On a silpat or foil-lined cookie sheet, place about 2 cups of the broken pretzels and the broken Oreo's, if you're using them.  Melt the almond bark in the microwave, being careful not to scorch the bark.  Almond bark typically holds its shape, even when it's melted, so stir often to prevent burning. Pour the melted almond bark over the pretzels and smear it around, covering as much of the pretzels/oreos as possible.  Quickly sprinkle the top of the almond bark with the remaining pretzels and cand...

How many things can you sit around and think about? Seriously? My cherub talked me into buying the new "flat" marshmallows for a project she wants to make. Great!  I'll make a project too! Inside-Out S'mores! Kind of a hassle, but fun to give to friends, or pack in a lunch box, or just say you made it! Inside-Out S'mores Graham crackers "Stacker Mallows" (flat marshmallows) from Jet-Puff white or chocolate almond bark sprinkles Break a graham cracker in half.  Melt one or two "cubes" of the almond bark. Take 2 stacker mallows and dab a bit of almond bark on each one and lay them side by side on 1/2 of a graham cracker.  Smear a bit more almond bark on the top of the marshmallows and place the other 1/2 of the cracker on top.  Allow the chocolate to set before dipping. Melt the remaining almond bark in a bowl.  You want to be able to dip the crackers in and submerge and turn them to get them evenly coated. Lay...

I remember making a S'more treat a long time ago. I can't find the recipe anywhere. I remember that when I made this treat, I gave the recipe to my friends. I remember e-mailing them a couple of years ago to get my recipe back. I can't remember where I put that recipe! I was cleaning out the office today and guess what I found! The recipe that I had made, that I lost, that I got back, that I lost again, and found again! I'm putting it here -- so hopefully I'll remember next time I want to make this S'more treat! S'more Bars 3 cups graham cracker crumbs 3/4 cup melted butter 1/3 cup sugar 3 cups mini marshmallows 2 cups chocolate chips Melt butter, add sugar and graham cracker crumbs; mix well. Press 1/2 of the crumb mixture into a greased 9 X 13 pan.  Sprinkle the marshmallows and chocolate chips on top of crust.  Sprinkle remaining cracker mixture on top; trying to cover the best you can. Bake at 375 for 10 minutes. Remo...

OK -- so 4th of July is over but this little firecracker craft is too cute not to show. It's easy to put together and your kiddos will have fun doing it . . .next year!  My youngest cherub made this during Sunday School.  That tells you 1) it's a fast craft and 2) perfection isn't necessary. Supplies : Lifesaver rolls Red, White, Blue electrical tape Sparkler picks (found at craft stores.  Now would be a good time to get these -- they'll be on sale!) Wrap the lifesaver rolls with electrical tape, alternating colors, as seen in the photo. Stick the sparkler pick in the top! Celebrate!

If you're looking for something easy to whip up to haul into the office with you tomorrow  . . . to make other's think that you're totally with it . . . to make them think that you are the most creative person there ever was . . . to make them think, "Are you kidding me, you've got the stuff at home to make this?" . . . to make them think, "I wish I could be like that!" . . . Then you need to run to the store to grab these easy ingredients . . . and a cute and decorative Chinese take out box to package it in (or maybe you just want to rinse out the one from the other night !). Easter Candy 1 lb. white chocolate almond bark, melted 1 package of Easter M&M's (I used the M&M Speckled Eggs because I wanted to) 15 vanilla oreos (so are they really oreos?) 1 1/2 pretzel rods, broken Easter colored sprinkles Roughly crush the vanilla oreos and sprinkle evenly on a cookie sheet.  Sprinkle some of the pretzel rods on top of t...

My littlest cherub went for the homemade Valentine treat this year!  I was glad to help her do something different.  As you know, I'm not real found of the little Valentine cards that kids 'get' to sign and pass to their friends!  She decided on marshmallow pops!  This is a very easy treat to make.  The throw together relatively quick and they are cute when wrapped individually.  I always make extra and give her a little surprise in her lunch box!  After all, what are moms for? In case you're wondering why am I still talking about Valentine's Day -- which is so "yesterday!" -- this is a great treat for any reason! Marshmallow Pops Jet-puffed marshmallows, regular size small sucker sticks (found at your local craft store) almond bark, white or chocolate sprinkles cellophane bags ribbon  Place your stick in the center of the marshmallow, pushing all the way down, but not through the marshmallow.  If you'r...

While catching up on some of the blogs I read, I saw this recipe for very cute Valentine candy.  Leigh Ann  at Your Homebased Mom posted this very cute looking bark recipe and don't you know, I had to give it a try!  If you don't make bark candy, then really you're missing out on one of the easiest treat there is!  It practically makes itself and it's perfect for a little treat to give to friends, teachers, or yourself!  After all, you work hard too! When I saw this recipe, I started thinking of ALL the things you could do with this recipe -- and it's great for about any holiday you want to celebrate!  I'm not sure what Leigh Ann calls this -- so I'll call it . . .oh, I can't come up with a cute name right now!  Maybe by the end of posting there will be something clever . . .and then again, maybe not! Candy Bark 1 lb. white chocolate almond bark* 1 1/2 cups pretzels, broken* 1 cup candy* 14 oreos, broken* Holiday colored sprinkles ...

At the holiday time, I always like baking.  Sometimes I make the "old stand-bys" and other times I try a new recipe that is sure to become a family favorite.  Today I was searching for a recipe when I ran across this old childhood treat that I remember my mom making.  This is a great recipe if you are wanting a candy but you're too afraid to give a "real recipe" a try!  Graham Cracker Toffee 1/2 pound (two sticks) butter 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup granulated white sugar 1/2 box (about) graham crackers (not crumbs) 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 cup chopped pecans, almonds, walnuts, or  macadamia nuts Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 10 x 15-inch jelly-roll pan with non-stick foil. Arrange whole graham crackers (12 crackers or so) to fit the bottom of the pan in a single layer, breaking up the last few to fit the space. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and white sugar. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to...

Oh, this is bad!  I was flipping through some old recipes when I found this yummy recipe for "Yum Yum Candy."  I first tasted this several years ago when Linda B. brought it to the Couples Retreat we used to go to at Lake Texhoma!  This stuff is addicting!  It makes quite a bit . . .so call a friend over and share the recipe -- you'll not only have fun making it with a friend, but you'll be glad you did when you go to put your jeans on! Yum Yum Candy 3 lbs. almond bark (1/2 vanilla and 1/2 chocolate) 1 1/2 cups peanut butter (smooth or chunky) 3 cups dry roasted peanuts 4 1/2 cups rice krispies 1/2 a bag (or so) of mini marshmallows Melt the almond bark and stir in the peanut butter.  Add marshmallows and cereal and stir well.  Add peanuts and mix.  Drop on wax paper to cool -- be sure to lick your fingers!