Watermelon Baby

 

Here's a creative way to pose the baby for a fun summer time (and memorable) picture.  Inside of a hallowed out WATERMELON.  The little one got a kick out of sitting inside of the melon and you've got to admit she's the cutest little watermelon you ever did see!

Diaper Cakes

I should post the invite for the actual shower with this cake because it really fits with the whole theme well.  Finding brown, teal and cream baby blankets with a giraffe thrown into the mix wasn't easy so I just settled with actual bath towels and over-lapped them with receiving blankets, giving the cake a different "bath take theme," (of course the core of the cake is filled with a complete package of newborn, 1's and 2's diapers.) I threw in a few items for the mommy on the cake as well for those rocky-labor-hours.  These cakes really are fun for me to put together, this was my 3rd baby boy diaper cake assemble~ I am still longing to do up one for a little girl!

Prayer Related to a PB & J Sandwich

I'll just let the pictures explain the thinking concept and process of this little "attention getter" I used for one of my sharing times awhile back focused on the theme of Prayer.  An easy lesson anyone could use for their own children for Family Night as well.

I had became a bit forgetful on the process and steps of making a PB& J sandwich- so with the help of the children they instructed and corrected me as I put the four steps of making my sandwich together.

God is our Father and we are His children; because we are not in His presence, He has given
us a way to talk to Him. Just as we make a Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich in a certain way and order, Heavenly Father has given us a way to pray to Him.

The Cutest Mousey Reverence Poem

For a sharing time, I found this great little poem on reverence from a past "Friend" issue.  Then found the perfect little mice for each of our primary children, that they were able to actually put in their pockets while the poem was read.  Thanks to Halloween time, the mice (sticky toys used for trick or treating/Fall festival treats) were easily found at Target.  I love the poem!

What If…?
By DaLee C. James

If a mouse would ride to church

In your pocket on this day,

What might he tell his family

That he heard you do or say?

Would he tell them you were reverent,

And you listened to your teacher?

Or would he say he’d never seen

Such a noisy creature?

Would he tell them how he loved the songs

You sang so sweet and clear?

Or would he groan from all the talking

That entered in his ear?

Could he take a little snooze

As you walked nice and tall?

Or would he scream with panic

As you galloped down the hall?

Would the little mouse get seasick

From the tipping of your chair?

Or would he feel safe and cozy

As you quietly sat there?

Would the chapel be a reverent place?

The sacrament the same?

Now tell me, would the little mouse

Be really glad he came?

If a mouse would ride to church

In your pocket on this day,

What might he tell his family

That he heard you do or say?

[illustration] Illustrated by Mark Robison

DaLee C. James, “What If … ?,”

Friend, Sep 1996, 22

The quickest, easiest, flawless, very versitable DOUGH~

This dough recipe is great.  I have issues with roll dough and rising but this recipe, if I can swing it in every single attempt- it's a keeper.

Try it out sometime, it's one that can be used for anything and everything, as shown from cresants (a prebaked pic) to pizza and everything inbetween cinnamon rolls, basic rolls, scones, disney characters...you name it.

1 Cup Milk

1 Cube Butter

1/2 Cup Sugar 

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup warm water

1 pkg yeast (2 1/4 tsp)

1/2 tsp. sugar (to sprinkle on top of yeast and warm water)

2 beaten eggs

5 cups flour

Scald your milk by bringing it to a boil in microwave (approx. 2 minutes, I use a glass measuring cup which works well) you can also do this over the stove if desired, then pour milk over your butter, sugar and salt.  Stir and let cool slightly.  In a small separate bowl combine the warm water, yeast and 1/2 tsp. sugar.  Let the yeast activate and then add it and the beaten egg to the milk mixture and stir.  Mix in approx. 5 cups of flour, enough to bring the dough to a nice kneading consistency.  Knead dough and let it rise for about 30 min. or so depending on temp of your home.  Make dough into any option your heart desires. Rolls will then need to raise again for another 30 min or so, but the pizza dough is good to top and cook, no additional raising needed and an easy fix for those kitchen helpers.  Cook at 350 degrees until bottoms are light golden brown. 

Christmas Goodies

December 2011

Chocolate Skor Bar Trifle

So easy but oh so good!  Layer cut up devils food chocolate cake mix into squares, layer with that, chocolate pudding, skor or heath (candy bar) pieces- I buy the ones in the package already cut up into tiny pieces then real whipping cream, repeat layers and ENJOY!  It's even better the second day after sitting in the fridge for awhile giving the layers a chance to soak into each other.

If you haven't ever made this...do, you will be a crowd pleaser!

Snow Capped- Gingerbread Sleighs filled with Hot Cocoa and Seasonal Marshmallows and Candy Canes for stirring.

(Those ginberbread shaped and flavored marshmallows are the best, then french vanilla snowmen and red and green stars and trees, found at the grocery store.)  

These were so fun to make, a first for this year but certainly they'll be added to the yearly traditions!

Super Easy and great for giving away- we decided to fill our sleighs with non-perishable items so they could sit on the counter for a few weeks, even as a decoration and still serve a great purpose on those cold winter days or nights...you know how some times you end up with ten goodie trays that never get eaten?  Well this goodie tray will solve that problem.

Decorated Sugar Cookies

Traditional sugar cookies, only this is the best recipe soft, thick and moist!

6 1/2 cups flour, 1 cup sour cream, 2 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup butter or marg., 2 cups sugar, 2 eggs unbeaten, 3 tsp vanilla. 350 degrees for 10 min.

Peppermint Rice Krispy Treats dipped in Milk Chocolate then dusted with Candy Cane

 I knew this ginormous bag of peppermint marshmellows would serve a good purpose!  They looked so pretty too.

 Christmas Crack

Also known as Christmas Crunch if our name for it is found offensive, super easy as "our motto."  Pretzels, Red and Green M and M's, peanuts, Rice Chex, Corn Chex and Cheerios mixed up with white chocolate bark.  I use a big kitchen plastic bag to mix it all up this year and it worked great but feel free to use a large bowl, line counter with parchment paper to pour out to dry it on. An addictive sweet and salty snack for the holidays!

 Santa Cupcakes

These guys are a long time tradition, we use devils food chocolate cupcakes then decorate as shown with vanilla frosting, mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, red hots and red sprinkles.  They aren't just cute but really rather tasty not just for the kids but for adults as well.

Milk Chocolate or White Chocolate Dipped then Sprinkled Oreos

(great to dip in hot cocoa, mmmmm) and then Happy Bars

Happy bars are just the crushed graham cracker crumbs mixed with butter and a tad bit of sugar for the crust, pour a can of sweetened condensed milk over that, sprinkle a cup of chocolate chips over than and then cover the top with coconut and cook em up- always a hit!

Oh My, looks like I forgot to take a picture of the Peanut Butter Balls...

But these are the all time favorite, you can not forget these- kind of like reeses peanut butter cups in a ball. 

18 oz peanut butter, 1 (16oz.) bag of powdered sugar, 1 pkg or 1 1/3 cup of graham cracker crumbs,

 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) softened butter- mix then all up nice and good use your hands don't be shy, roll into small balls, place on wax or parchment paper a top a tray and place in refrigerator or freezer for a few to harden them up a bit and dip to coat in melted chocolate chips or chocolate bark, allow chocolate to harden and yummo.  This batch makes a ton, I actually froze half of the peanut butter balls undipped so the kids can dip some to have on Christmas Eve as well. 

Try out some of these, they just may become some of your easy holiday favorites!