Thursday, October 29, 2009

Heath Bar Crunch Chocolate Chip cookies!

I discovered a bag of Heath Bar Bit O'Brickle Toffee Chips at the grocery store earlier this week and figured they had to be good for a new cookie, right!!?? So I figured I would have to search the internet high and low for a worthy recipe then I turned the bag over and there was a perfectly awesome one staring me in the face! The only thing I changed in the existing recipe was the addition of Hershey's milk chocolate chips. I was shocked to find all the Heath Bar chips were NAKED! No yummy chocolate coating, well, no worries, I fixed that with a bag of choco chips!!!!

1 cup (2 sticks) softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
3 1/2 c all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
8 oz bag of Heath Bit o' Brickle toffee bits
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat butter, sugars, vanilla, and salt in a large bowl until blended. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda and cream of tartar; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in toffee bits and chocolate chips.

Place teaspoon sized dollops on a parchment lined baking sheet. I like to flatten it a little with my fingers for an even bake. Bake 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool slightly on a wire rack.

Monday, October 26, 2009

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a spider!?!?

Man I just love this itsy bitsy spider on my Cricut Doodlecharms cart! Do you remember I made this altered tin several weeks back, well I decided to fill it with lollipop goodness for my boys baseball team! Just a fun little treat for their Halloween games. What baseball player doesn't like a good sucker?
Sweet dreams!
Rachel

Easy~Simple~Quick Caramel Apples

I recently discovered these caramel apple wraps by Concord Foods! I mean, peel and stick on a clean apple and and jam the Popsicle stick in and DONE, caramel apples!!!! I can't believe all the time I have wasted over the years, unwrapping a million itty bitty caramel squares and melting them, sometimes burning them! I beg you to try these :) My 8, 7 and 3 yr old boys had a ball!
The pics of my kiddos are a bit out of focus, you can cleary see, I had to snap my pics quickly the way they were devouring their caramel apples! If I waited to focus and adjust the camera... no live action photos ;) Since my eldest is missing his 2 front teeth, he had to eat his apple on the side of his mouth, it was actually pretty funny to watch!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Recipe Card Swap{s}

I have been a busy little beaver hosting an ABC Dessert swap and Appetizer Swap as well as my favorite 2Peas swap ever- The Secret Betty Swap, hosted by Marla! This is my recipe card for the swap I am hosting at 2Peas- http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&forum_id=14&thread_id=2890115, ABC Dessert Swap. This entry is for the letter "B" - Buttery Apple Cobbler!
This recipe card is also for the same swap I mentioned above. This spot was for "Q" - Quick Coconut Drops!
This is my Christmas Side Dish card for Marla's swap- MY FAVORITE SWAP EVER!!! http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&forum_id=14&thread_id=2898217 : The Secret Betty Swap! Marla is so creative and original ... I always love participating in her swap!!!
I am also hosting an appetizer swap at 2Peas http://www.twopeasinabucket.com/mb.asp?cmd=display&forum_id=14&thread_id=2890501, Pan Seared Pork Dumplings!
Here is all 88 recipe cards I made and completed on Friday! Talk about being overly ambitious ;) But they are all done and I am proud of each and every one of them!!!
TFL!
Rachel

Friday, October 23, 2009

I was MIA for ...

a little family vacation in Virginia at my cousins lake house :) My cousin, David, invited my family and 2 other cousins and their families to join him and his wife and kids at their vacation home for some family catch-up time! It was fabulous! The laughter, the sights, the colors, the crisp cool Autumnal air, the campfire (with smores), the memories, the relaxation, the yummy food and the love... PRICELESS!!!! View of the woods across from my cousins dock. That is actually steam coming off of the lake. Neat, huh!?!?!
My hubby, my cousin and my other cousin's hubby clearing a branch off the roof (it made spooky sounds late at night! Good riddance ;)
The 2nd cousins taking a stroll down the path to the levy.
I dream of owning this cabin... RIGHT HERE!!!
As a Florida girl, there is no sight more gorgeous!
I will be back this weekend with some great recipe cards I made for 3 upcoming swaps :)

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Coca-Cola Cake {recipe}

I love the version Cracker Barrel serves SO MUCH that I decided to a little research on the Internet a few years ago. I found this EASY and scrumptious recipe, I beg you to try it! I happen to make 2 today, one for a Teacher thank you on behalf of the PTA board and one for a cousins reunion I will be attending in Virginia this weekend.
Coca-Cola Cake

Cake :
1 (18.25 oz) chocolate cake mix
1 box (5.1 oz) chocolate instant pudding
1 ¼ c. Coca- Cola
½ c. vegetable oil
4 large eggs

Glaze :
2 c. confectioner’s sugar
3 tbsp. Coca-Cola

Set the over to 350. Bake in a greased
Bundt pan for 45 minutes. Let cool & glaze.

Look what I found!!!

I was browsing a few blogs in my favorites column, clicked on their blog favorites ... made a few more clicks on those blog favorites and found this FABULOUS site! http://www.tastespotting.com/browse/1
It is a collection of recipes with drool-worthy photos... like this one Roasted Pumpkin with cinnamon sugar and homemade whipped cream!Chocolate Chip Pumpkin cookies!And of course I have to give a shout out to any Hello Kitty themed dessert!!! Especially since I sit here as a 35 year old Mother of three in a Hello Kitty tee shirt and necklace ;)

I plan on making the homemade marshmallows... http://thedishondelish.com/2009/10/homemade-marshmallows/ next week!!!!

Now those are some good eats!
Rachel

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Whats a happin, hot stuff!?!?!?

LMBO! I went to Firehouse Subs with my hubby and little man for lunch on Friday and noticed the funniest hot sauce bottles. This one was by far the one that got the loudest, laugh out load, chuckle from me! So funny, I subjected myself to the embarrassment of taking a photo in a sub shop during their busy lunch rush!!!
~Rachel

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Halloween Treat Boxes

I bought a package of 12 wedding favor paper boxes from Dollar Tree. I actually bought them over the summer and with no purpose in mind. I figured $1... how could I go wrong? I am actually pretty bummed that I only bought one package. Truth is, I needed at least 50 favor boxes between both boys classes. Now the dilemma is ... where am I going to pass out 12 favor boxes!?!?!?
I cut the scalloped ovals from the Home Decor cart, the small scalloped circle - Marvy punch and the Halloween die cuts are last years stash, K&Co by Tim Coffey. Of course I added a smidgen of ribbon and a knotted button!
I wanted to try to fill the favors with trinkets rather than candies- not like any of the kids I know need more candy or trinkets this time of year!!! Inside are a fruity box of Chicklets, a pumpkin lollipop, a mini Frisbee, a skeleton and a party blower.
Ohhhhhh- how I love these colors. Ohhhhhhh- how I love Halloween (can you tell!?!?!)
Sometimes I wish I were a kid again!
:) Rachel

Friday, October 9, 2009

Franken-Recycled-Can-Stein

Hmmmm.... ever look at the empty can of crushed tomatoes and wonder about a better use for it other than the garbage? NO? Ok... maybe *I* just can't throw perfectly good recyclables away!!! I cleaned out the can and covered it with lime green felt. I cut out little shimmery black pieces of black and used chipboard periods from a letter set, for the eyes and teeth, brads and embrodery floss!

I covered another can with black cardstock, white gauze (from the first aid kit that I keep in the pantry), googly eyes and lots of glue.

Fill with tissue paper and candy, pencils or a potted plant for a lovely teachers gift or a Boo treat for your neighbor!!!!

xoxo
Rachel

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Nothing says Halloween like a ....

CANDY WREATH!!! How festive is this!?!?! I bought a round oasis style wreath from the Dollar Tree and attatched all the candies with straight pins. The ribbon is also from the Halloween section at Dollar Tree.
I used the Blackletter Cricut cart for the letters. Nothing says spooky like Blackletter!
I went with an old fashioned candy theme and used yummy oldies like Goetze bulls eyes (as a little kid my Dad always brought them home for me from Ft. Dix and he still loves buying them for me and bringing them when he visits!!!), Chick-O-Stick, candy lipsticks and candy rings, Necco waffers and Lemon Heads.
Do ya like my dangling spider?
Sweet thoughts!
Rachel

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Oh Halloween Tree, Oh Halloween Tree....

(you are supposed to be singing that to the tune of Oh, Christmas Tree!)I did a Halloween ornie swap at 2peas as well as a Halloween ATC swap at SIStv this year. As I put up the new Halloween tree my Mom bought me yesterday, I had an epiphany! Why not add my beautiful ATC's to the tree as ornaments!?!?!? I am so glad I did- they are all just too beautiful to put on the already crowded 7gypsies ATC carousel!
Look at the beautiful ATC's my swappers made! Talent, true talent!!!
Here are a few of my past favorite felt ornies from last year!

I feel like I should hang black stocking on the mantle and mistle toe up for trick-or-treaters ;)

TFL!
Rachel

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs- CAKE!

My 2nd grader is studying Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs as his classes vocabulary words, so I offered to make a special snack in honor of the fabulous book! I took the original idea from a photo that I saw my cousin comment on, on Facebook. I actually took my cake in a different direction after I did a little research on the internet.You will first need to start out by making a white cake and a chocolate cake from a box mix. The white cake will be for your mound of spaghetti. I used a glass Pyrex casserole dish that I sprayed with Pam. The chocolate cake is for the "meatballs".I used 2 tubs of store bought, white vanilla icing. I put them both in one bowl and tinted them with 4 squeezes of yellow food coloring for the rich pasta color. I iced the mound with the icing before I piped the "spaghetti" all over the top. I used a #5 (round) tip from Wilton. I started making straight spaghetti lines then finished with haphazard squiggly lines ;)I used about 1/3 the chocolate cake and 1/4 of icing for the cake balls, an idea I got from Bakerella, http://www.bakerella.com/dont-lick-bite%e2%80%a6/ . I froze them for about 10 minutes before I put them on the iced cake. It is a MESSY PROCESS but a delicious outcome!!!!Here is the final product....

What kiddo wouldn't finish this plate of spaghetti and meatballs!?!?!?!

TFL!
Rachel

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Mr. October!

Kidding... we are far from World Series material BUT We had a great season opener for my middle son.


Ok- now that we saw the little Yankees play- off to see the Big Yankees play the Rays at the Trop 2nite!!!
TFL!