Basic Pavlova

This recipe makes enough for 2 15” circles

INGREDIENTS

4 egg whites

¾ cup white sugar

1 tsp cream of tartar

DIRECTIONS

1. Beat egg whites with cream of tartar until soft peaks form.   

Very slowly add sugar, beating in thoroughly until stiff peaks form and egg whites are glossy.

2. Prep two baking sheets with parchment.  (Trace a plate with a marker to get a perfect circle outline.  Turn the parchment over so the tracing is on the reverse side.)   

Spread egg white mixture to edge of circles.  Slightly scoop out the centre.

3. Bake in a preheated 225F oven for 90 minutes.   

Once out of the oven, cool completely before plating.  To remove parchment, bend the paper slowly away from the pavlova.  It should all come off in one piece. 

4. Pile fresh raspberries in the centre for your garnish, or use any other berry or chopped fruit.  The pavlova should be stiff on the outside and chewy on the inside.  Mine stayed fresh (with toppings) for 2-3 days in the fridge.  Enjoy!!

Vanilla Cream

Icing seen here on my Pavlova!

INGREDIENTS

1 pkg instant vanilla pudding

1.5 cups milk

¾ cup whipping cream

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix instant pudding and milk together until blended and starting to thicken.

2. Whip the whipping cream until stiff peaks form.

3. Fold whipped cream into the pudding very gently.  Refrigerate until ready to use!

 This is perfect for icing a single layer cake or multi-layered cake IF you chill til firm between every layer.  Use in place of whipped cream on pies or as a dipping sauce for fruit.  Yum!

M&M Costume Faces

I made up some cute iron-ons for an M&M candy costume!  Just select 'reverse image' in your printer properties, print, cut out, and iron on to your fabric!  

Alternately, just print out onto regular paper, cut out, and glue to bristol board.

BOY

GIRL

M

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Halloween Printable

Halloween 8x8 free printable!

 

 

 

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DIY Window Prisms

I wanted to add something special to my daughter's bedroom window.  It isn't too big and I haven't decided on the window treatments yet, so I wanted to do something that would be (a) simple to assemble, (b) easy to install, and (c) removable in case it doesn't work later. 

I picked up some gems from the dollar store in different shapes and shades.  When I opened the package, I noticed the crystals had tiny holes for stringing!  I chose to use small and large pink crystals and spherical clear crystals.  I had lots of clear jewelry string, so each crystal got its own string and a couple were doubled up.  I just taped them inside the window frame and that was it!  The facets on the gems act like prisms and project rainbows into the room when the sun is shining.

UPDATE:  Some of the heavier crystals (the doubled strings) fell.  However, I only used regular scotch tape to hang them.  A little bit of duct tape should do the trick!  (Plus, since they are all attached inside the frame, you can't see the tape anyway!)

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Ruffle Sandwiches

1. Lay out large tortilla.

2. Cut the stalk out of a piece of leaf lettuce and place on tortilla.  Let the lettuce edges hang off the tortilla.

3. Add filling.  I used a chicken-grape filling.  (Toss together chopped chicken, quartered grapes, chopped celery, walnuts/pecans, etc.  Add enough mayo or Miracle Whip {my choice!} to bind together.)

4. Roll up, making sure the lettuce edges stay out.

5. Use a toothpick to hold together.

6. Serve!

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Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

INGREDIENTS

1.5 cups flour

3/4 cup white sugar

1/3 cup milk (approx)

1/3 cup oil

2 large apples, peeled, seeded, and minced

1 egg

2 TBSP cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.  Line muffin tray with muffin cups and lightly spray with Pam.

2. Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt until well blended.

3. In a 1 cup measuring cup, add oil and egg.  Slowly add enough milk to bring the liquid level to the 1 cup line.  Pour into the flour mixture and blend well.

4. Blend apple pieces in and mix until apples are thoroughly dispersed through muffin mixture.

5. Fill muffin cups almost to the top.  

Add streusel to the top of each muffin.  

Bake 20-22 minutes until lightly browned, or until done.

STREUSEL INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup flour

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup oats

scant 1/4 cup soft butter

1 tsp cinnamon

Blend all ingredients together until it resembles a coarse mixture.  Add more flour by the tablespoon if needed.

 

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Homemade Pasta Sauce

Start with a large can of crushed tomatoes.  Pour into a saucepan and add seasonings.  I never measure these; I just shake the container a couple of times.  Each is likely 2 tsp or so.  However, I do add a little less of the chili powder and more of the garlic powder (2-3 times - self-proclaimed garlic lover here).  The italian seasoning could also handle more.  Blend well over med-low heat.

Add about 2 TBSP of brown sugar and mix until melted. I also like to add 1-2 tbsp of butter and I stir it in until melted.  It just adds a little bit of ooomph!  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Let the sauce sit for another 5 minutes or so to let the flavours blend, then taste it and adjust seasonings as desired.

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Autumn Napkin Wrap

Easy autumn napkin wrap with supplies you probably already have on hand!  I already had everything, so this was a free craft for me!

SUPPLIES

napkins

hot glue

craft paper

raffia

feathers

Step 1: Fold napkin into desired size.  I used a regular sized linen napkin and folded in half, half again, and half again.

Step 2: Cut brown craft paper into a rectangle.  Turn napkin over so edges are on the top. 

Step 3: Hot glue the craft paper together to make a wrap.

Step 4: Turn over again so seam from paper is underneath.  Glue raffia onto paper.

Step 5: Glue a sweet lil feather onto the middle of the raffia.  These were pheasant feathers, I believe.

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Warm Citrus Body Oil

Try smoothing this on after a warm bath!  For extra fabulousness, pour into a lidded bottle and leave it in a sink full of hot water while you are in the bath.  When you get out, the oil will be warm and cozy!

I whipped some up tonight and put in on my daughter after her bath.  She likes oil after her baths instead of lotion because, "Dat yotion is so cold, Mommy!"  Haha!   Now if only my hands were not so cold...

I mixed two oils in this recipe for extra richness in the blend:

2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

2 TBSP grapeseed oil

3 drops bergamot essential oil

3 drops lemon essential oil

2 drops orange essential oil

1 drop ylang-ylang essential oil

Blend all ingredients and pour into dry, clean bottle.  Always test on a small area first!

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