Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes

You know when you get that craving to something sweet and chocolatey. Well this cupcake will definintely satisfy that craving. Chocolate and hazelnut coming together is the perfect combination! Just be sure to have a glass of milk handy to wash it all down. These are amazingly rich and delicious!

Chocolate Nutella Cupcakes:

Base:
You can use any chocolate cake recipe you like. I used the chocolate cake recipe from Chef in Training. You'll notice the recipe on the site is for Nutella cupcakes. I used the cake part, but switched up everything else. 

Most cupcakes bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Let your cupcakes cool completely. Once cool, make a small hole in the center of each cupcake by removing some of the cake and fill with some nutella. 

Chocolate Hazelnut Buttercream:

1 stick butter, softened
1/2-3/4 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (start by adding 1/2 cup and increase if you would like more flavor)
1-2 TBS milk
1 tsp vanilla
4-5 cups powdered sugar
Chopped hazelnuts for garnishing (optional)

Beat Butter and hazelnut spread. Add 1 TBS milk and vanilla. Slowly add in the powdered sugar until you reach desired consistency. Add more milk if your frosting is too think, a tablespoon at a time. Pipe onto cooled cupcakes and top with chopped hazelnuts. 

Yummy!

Lime Rickey Cupcakes

 One of my most favorite drinks, especially in the summertime is Lime Rickeys. One of my other most favorite things is cupcakes thanks to the Talented Terrace Girl Teresa introducing me. I have really developed a love of cupcakes and baking them! I think my family and friends love my passion for baking cupcakes as well as they are my main test tasters! The best part of baking cupcakes is creating a recipe and having it turn out to be a great success! Well I have wanted to make a Lime Rickey cupcake because I absolutely love lime rickeys and figured hey that would make a good cupcake. Well the other day I did it! This cupcake tastes like a lime rickey. Yum is all I gotta say!

Lime Rickey Cupcakes

Base:

• 1 white cake mix
• 2 TBS oil
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1/2 cup water
• zest and juice of 1-2 limes (I used 1 1/2 limes)

Mix all ingredients together, fill muffin tins with liners and fill liners 3/4 of the way full. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes. Cool completely on a cooling rack.

Grape Buttercream:

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• 1 small package grape jello
• 5 cups powdered sugar-give or take

Beat butter and cream cheese together for about two minutes. Add vanilla and grape jello and mix until well combined. Add powdered sugar until you reach desired consistency. Pipe onto cupcakes. Garnish each cupcake with a slice of lime if desired and enjoy!

Makes 3 dozen cupcakes

Munchkin Monday: Chore Charts

So my kiddos are old enough to help pitching in with helping around the house and I wanted to try and make it as fun as possible for them. I also wanted to be able to teach them that part of living in a family is helping around the house and not expecting anything out of it, but I also want to teach them about earning and budgeting money at an early age. I browsed around pinterest and looked at a lot of different chore charts out there and decided to combine two that I really liked and created my own. I debated on whether to use pictures or write what the chores were, but decided to go with pictures to make it more fun and so my almost 3 year old can see and understand what each chore is. To incorporate earning money I made a bonus section where my children can choose if he/she wants to do that extra chore(s) and if they do, they can earn money as a result-.25 a extra chore. At the end of the month I will add up how much extra work they have done and then with the money I'm going to teach them to split that up and pay tithing, themselves, and what's left is spending money. My girl who is 5 seems really excited about this and I am hoping that they work as good as these look. We have only been using these for a few days now, but so far so good!

To make your own chart like this you will need:

• 2 metal cookie sheets ( I got mine at the dollar store)
• Spray paint (I used my kids' favorite colors)
• paper tape
• clear pebbles that can be found at any craft store
• magnetic tape roll
• an adhesive of some kind for the pebbles. I used some Zots that can be found in any scrapbooking section at a craft store
• chores printable-you can browse the internet for some of these or make your own. I found some for free on http://homeschoolcreations.com
• scrapbook paper 

I first printed my child's name and the tittles off my computer, placed them on some scrapbook paper, and cut them out all nice. Next I cut out the chores and adhered them to the pebbles using Zots. This is what they look like all done:

Next you will cut small sections of the magnetic tape and place it on all of the stuff. After that spray paint your cookie sheets. I made sure to apply a clear finishing spray after the paint had dried to "protect" the paint. Next put a strip of the paper tape down the center of the cookie sheet so you can make a column for the To Do's and Done's. Next apply some magnetic tape of the back of the cookie sheet(s) so you can place them on your fridge or any other magnetic surface. The final step is to put all your stuff on. You now can use your totally awesome and cute charts!!!

Tuelle Hair Bows

I've been wanting to make a few new bows for a while now and decided to make some using tuelle. I love using tuelle because I think it just looks really girly and I love to dress my girls up all girly and cutesy. I made matching ones for my two girls and then I also made some for my little niece and gave some to her for her first birthday. These bows are so easy to make and don't take very long to do!This bow will be the perfect accessory for your little girl!

What you need:
Some hair clips (can be found at Walmart or a beauty store)
Hot glue gun
tuelle (I had bought a big roll of it at Walmart)
Ribbon
Gems or anything else that could work to place in the center of your bow

 
Step 1:
Glue some ribbon onto the top of your hair clip

Step 2:
Cut some strips of tuelle and start to form a star/firework looking shape. I layered 2-3 strips each time to make it thicker which is what you want. It makes the bow nice and puffy.

 
Step 3:
Take 2-3 strip of tuelle, place them together and then group all the tuelle together and using those strips tie all of it together so it now looks like this:

 

Steps 4 and 5:

Glue your tuelle bow onto your clip. After that is dry glue on your gem, brad, or any other embellishment. I used a little flower that actually came in a scrapbook kit I got. Scrapbook embellishments are great to use on this kind of stuff!

 

You now have some cute new hair bows!

 



 

 

 

Sweet tooth Tuesday: Homemade Krispy Kreme Donuts

Ok so who doesn't love Krispy Kremes! I know I do and I've got a copycat recipe for them! I think the best way to eat a Krispy Kreme is to stick it in the microwave for only about 10 seconds, enough to warm the donut and make the frosting soft. Yum!!! Every time I have made these they seem to go quickly and I never bring home leftovers. You have one and then you can't stop there. Making these is a little bit of a process, but overall they are easy to make.

Homemade Krispy Kreme Donuts

Donuts:

• 2 TBS yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 1/2 cup lukewarm milk
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 5 cups flour
• oil for frying

Glaze:

• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 1.2 tsp vanilla
• 4-6 TBS hot water

Donuts: Dissolve yeast in water. Add milk, sugar, salt, eggs, shortening, and 2 cups of flour. Beat on low, scraping the bowl for 30 seconds. Then beat at medium speed for 2 minutes, occasionally scraping the bowl. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in a warm place until dough has doubled in size (about an hour). Dough is ready when an indent remains. Turn onto a floured surface. With a floured rolling pin, gently roll dough to 1/2 inch thick.Cut with a floured donut cutter and place on a baking sheet, leaving plenty of room for them to grow. Cover and let rise until doubled (30-40 minutes) Sides must not touch! Using a wide spatula, slide donuts into hot oil, turn as they rise to the surface. Fry just until golden (about a minute each side) Carefully remove and drain. Dip in creamy glaze, cool on wire rack, and then dip in glaze again.

*Note: If you don't have a donut cutter you can use a mason jar ring, or even the rim of a glass to make round donuts. I don't have have a donut cutter, do it this way, and my donuts turn out great!

Glaze: Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water 1 TBSP at a time, until desired consistency has been reached. To make a chocolate glaze, melt 4 oz of milk chocolate or semi sweet chocolate chips with butter and continue with glaze recipe.

This make 2 dozen donuts

Foodie Friday: Banana Applesauce Bread

So I have to admit I'm not too fond of bananas, but I do like me some warm banana bread with some butter on it. If I eat bananas plain the peel has to be bright yellow with no black on it. I'm weird I know. I just have a thing with textures and bananas fall into that category of food textures I do not like. My most favorite thing to do with those bananas that start getting a little too ripe for me is making banana bread with them. I have two recipes for banana bread that I really like and this is one of them that I thought I would share!

Banana Applesauce Bread

• 1/4 cup butter, softenend
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 large banana, mashed
• 2 eggs
• 1 16 oz can applesauce
• 3 TBS buttermilk
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda

Cream butter and sugar. Add banana, eggs, and applesauce. Stir in flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix should be slightly thicker than a cake mix.. Add buttermilk and if too stiff and another tablespoon of the buttermilk. Pour into two greased loaf pans and bake at 350 for 45 minutes.When done slide a knife around the edges and invert. Cool on a wire rack.

Wild Card Wednesday: Memory Corsage

We blessed our new baby girl back in December and I wanted to share this cool little gift that my mom made for my little girl to wear on her special day. This is called a memory corsage and my mom originally saw this idea at a boutique she went to. She had bought one at the boutique she went to and had given it to one of my sisters who was having a baby girl. She wanted to keep the tradition going by giving each girl grand baby a corsage, and had a hard time finding one in the stores. You can find them online but some can be quite spendy. Their may be some stores that sell them, but I know my mom searched a lot of different stores and nobody had these.She finally decided to make one instead of buying one for my little girl. I think it turned out great and I am so grateful to have one that my mom made that will end up being passed down generation to generation! 

My daughter's corsage with the Memory Corsage poem

A close up

Here's the poem in case you want to make your own Corsage:

Memory Corsage

A flower for this tiny girl, tied softly at her wrist 

will carry forth a memory of the day that she was blessed.

Then lovingly preserve it, softly tuck this flower away,

to nestle in those curly locks on her baptism day.

So as the months turn to years, a guy may come her way, 

you'll want to share this flower with her on her wedding day.

Something old and something new that every bride must carry, 

Include this flower in her bouquet on the day that she will marry.

Before her flowers are tossed away, remove this flowered pearl, 

to adorn another's tiny wrist, of her very own little girl. 

DIY Thursday: Sock Snowmen

Look at these little guys and tell me they are not cute! My 5 year old daughter had an assignment in preschool to make a snowman but without any snow. I gave her a couple ideas and even showed her some examples on pinterest and she decided she wanted to make a sock snowman. I was totally expecting her to want to make something like a paper plate snowman but no she chose the most crafty one! So one afternoon her and I built our snowmen. Sock snowmen are really easy to make and little hands can do most of it on their own. My daughter was so excited with the finished product and couldn't wait to take it to school the next day. I think they turned out pretty good too!

To make your own sock snowman start with a white sock, one that is knee high or mid calf. This is a great project you can use those socks that end up missing their match or that have holes in them. You will then cut the sock at the heel.  Here is my sock cut in half.

Next take the part of your sock that has an opening now on the top and the bottom and put a rubber band on one of the ends. Make sure the sock is inside out!!! When the rubber band is on take the sock and fold it so the rubber band is inside and you cannot see it.

Now you will fill your sock up with beans or rice. I had lots of beans so that is what I used. Make sure to put a lot in there because this is the body of your snowman. When the sock gets full and really close to the top tie on another rubber band.

I didn't take a picture of the next few steps so I apologize. I was having fun creating and forgot to take pictures of all the steps! You now have a sock full of beans or rice. Now you will take another rubber band and tie it around the sock and form the head. You can add another to create three "balls" so to speak or just do one rubber band and have a chubby snowman like ours.

Next you will cut another sock, a cute colorful one the same exact way as we did the white sock and use it as the clothes. Slide the part with a hole on the top and bottom over your snowman. Use the toe part of the sock as the hat. Next you can embellish/decorate your snowman with buttons, flowers, jewels, etc. You can cut a strip of the sock off and make a scarf like I did for my snowman. I used a small black jewel for a nose, but orginally was going to cut a toothpick, paint it orange, and use it as a nose. I didn't have any orange paint though and couldn't run to the store cause my baby was sleeping. It just goes to show you can get creative and use whatever you want!

Now go make yourself this cute winter craft/decoration!

Sweet Tooth Tuesday: Peanut Butter Balls

These little balls are bursting with peanut butter flavor and sweet enough to satisfy any sweet craving. This is a treat that the kids can help make. My 5 year old helped with these and had lots of fun doing so. The great thing about these is that they leave no mess! Yay! 

Peanut butter balls

5-6 cups rice crispy cereal

1 cup sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup peanut butter

Put rice cereal in a large bowl. Set aside. Combine sugar and corn syrup in a pot over medium high heat. Bring to a boil. Once it is boiling add peanut butter and remove from heat quickly. Pour peanut butter mixture over rice cereal and toss to evenly coat. Place your hands under the sink and run cold water on them.  Form balls with your hands and place on a sheet of wax paper to cool  Makes 24.

Foodie Friday: Lizard Stew

One of the things I love most about winter is being able to cook soups. I am always trying new recipes and this was a new recipe we tried out of the worlwide ward cookbook earlier this week that my family loved. Let me clarify that this soup does not have lizards in it! I have no idea why it is called that but oh man is it good! I told my 5 year old we were having lizard stew and she flipped out, but after I explained there is no lizards in it she was ok with it and actually ended up eating her whole bowl full. The great thing about this soup is that it is very easy to make! Easy is great right? I'm sure your whole family will like this just as mine does and will become a family favorite. That's the kind of meals you want anyways right-yummy and easy:)

Lizard Stew

1 pound ground beef, browned

1 10oz can green chiles and diced tomatoes (I only put in half the amount of green chiles. I didn't want it too spicy)

1 15oz can chili beans

1 26oz can minestrone soup

1 pound velveeta cheese

Combine all ingredients but the cheese in a large pot. Once soup starts bubbling add cheese and heat through. Serve with corn chips if you desire. This can be cooked in a crock pot as well on the low setting.  You would just add the cheese about a half hour before serving. Serves 6

DIY Thursday: Brown sugar & vanilla sugar scrub

 This year for Christmas I ended up giving my sister in law and one of my sisters this sugar scrub. Sugar scrubs are really easy to make and you can make some really yummy smelling ones. Homemade scrubs work just as well as store bought ones at making skin super soft. Sugar scrubs work great on heels, elbows, anywhere you want to soften your skin. This particular scrub only needs 3 ingredients: sugar, coconut oil and vanilla. Simple enough right? I had fun making this and it really does leave your skin nice and soft. I'm excited to experiment, try new scrubs, and share with you.

Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub:
 1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1-2 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and add more brown sugar if needed. Put in a jar/container and wrap with ribbon or whatever else you may like.

*Tip-You can save containers and reuse them instead of buying new ones by just removing the labels off of them*

Munchkin Monday: Reindeer Food

I know Christmas break starts today for most schools around us and those kiddos of yours are probably already looking for something fun to do, but then maybe some of you have kids that have their break all planned out and know what they're going to do each day. Whether you have bored kids or kids that have their break all planned out I have a great little activity for you to do. With Christmas Eve tomorrow what would be more perfect to do than make a little bit of reindeer food to help Santa's reindeer make sure and find your house! My family has made some of this before and then I know Trinity just made some cause her little boy and my daughter go to same preschool and he handed some out to everyone of his classmates. Reindeer food is way easy to make and your kids will love making some! They will love knowing Santa and his reindeer won't miss their house.

To make reindeer food all you need is:

Oats

Bird seed

Glitter in any color but it's more festive in red and green (or you can use colored sugar crystals)

There is no set measurements so just combine a little bit of each and viola you now have food for Santa's reindeer!

If you are giving this away to some friends or family make sure to include these simple instructions: 

"Sprinkle on the lawn at night, 

The moon will make it sparkle bright,

 As Santa's reindeer fly and roam, 

This will guide them to your home."

Foodie Friday: Beef Stuffed peppers

I never had stuffed peppers until after I got married and decided to try some one night for dinner. I was skimming through an Eating Better cookbook I had bought in high school and decided to try this recipe out. I was surprised at how delicious they were. My husband especially likes these! These are really yummy, and a healthier dinner choice!

Beef Stuffed Peppers:

4 green, red, or yellow peppers
1 lb ground beef (the more lean the better)
3/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup uncooked white rice
4 Tbsp catsup, divided
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp dried oregano, divided
1/4 tsp pepper
1 can Italian style stewed tomatoes (I used some home canned stewed tomatoes)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut tops off bell peppers,  remove seeds. Combine ground beef, onion, rice, 3 Tbsp catsup, salt, 1/2 tsp oregano,  and pepper in a large bowl mixing lightly. Spoon into peppers. Stand in a 8X8 dish. Combine remaining catsup, oregano, and stewed tomatoes. Pour over peppers. Cover dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 1 1/2 hours, until beef is no longer pink and juices run clear.

Wild Card Wednesday: Christmas gift ideas

The Christmas season is now upon us! It is such a wonderful time to remember our Savior's birth and to give to others. A couple days ago we had a family Christmas party and usually we all bring a little something for each family. Nothing too fancy, just a little something to say hey we love you and appreciate all you do. I got thinking that all these fun gift ideas would be great to share in case any of you readers are looking for some kind of idea for a gift for neighbors, friends, or families. 

Gift idea #1

Loaf of bread: We "loaf" you tons!

Gift idea #2

Hand Soap: We "wash" you a Merry Christmas

This is what I gave everyone this year. There is a really cute printable on this site. I was going to use the printable originally, but then realized my printer needs a new color cartridge, so I had to make my own using plain black.

 Gift idea #3

Hot chocolate: Wishing you a "warm" and wonderful Christmas

 Gift idea #4

Hersheys kisses: We wish you a Merry "Kissmas"

You can also put kisses in a whisk and say  We "Wisk" you a Merry "Kissmas"

Gift idea #5

A spatula with a box of brownies or cookies: We "flippen" love you!

Hopefully you like one of these ideas! Have fun shopping and gift giving this Holiday Season!



DIY Thursday: Thanksgiving kitchen dress towel

A few days ago my mother in law gave me this cute towel that she made. I thought it was too cute not to share! I'm not one who sews, but it looks as if it would be incredibly easy to make. All it needs is some fabric, a dish towel, and ribbon. I took a picture close up so you can see how to exactly attached everything. Go ahead and try to make one! If you're not someone that sews I know that Quilted Bear sells some cause I was just in their yesterday and saw a booth with some! Wouldn't this be cute and good to use on Thanksgiving Day!?!