TO DIE for Chocolate Caramel Bars

WARNING!! WARNING!! These are so amazing and delicious that you will probably eat the entire batch unless you share with family and friends!!! Just wanted to warn you bc I don't want to be at fault when you cant control yourself! lol  I have this problem and often times just go with it bc why not?! I work out, I deserve a pan full of heavenly goodness. I'm sure a few crunches will burn the entire batch off, right?? My mom and sis in law both make this, one with and one without nuts for those allergic family members (my HUBBY). Both are equally as yummy. Here's the one with nuts:

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 flour
• 1 c quick oats
• 1/2 C brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 C Cold butter
• 1 C chopped walnuts
• 2o caramels
• 1 14oz can eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
• 2 C chocolate chips (or more if you love the heavenly morsel)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 375*
2. Mix in large bowl: flour, oats, baking soda, & salt (*this is crumb mix)
3. Cut in butter until crumbly
4. Save 1 1/2 C of crumb mix and press rest into 13x9" pan and bake for 15 mins.
5. Add walnuts to saved crumb mix
6. In saucepan on low heat: melt caramel with milk
7. Layer chocolate chips, caramel mix, then crumb mix onto pressed mix and bake for 20 minutes.

That's it! That's all it takes to make a piece of Heaven! Enjoy!!!!


written by Brandi

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Homemade Wheat Thin Crackers

Have you ever read the label on a wheat thin box? Sparkly Polliwog has and we don't like what we have found! Why buy a snack that has MSG in it when you can make it yourself and know exactly whats going in it. Not that the package kind is evil or anything, but there is just stuff in it that you would never add to your food by choice. It is also a fun project to do with the kids! Found this recipe from Smitten Kitchen.

          Ingredients:

   Makes ~3 dozen.  I doubled it :)

• 1 1/4 C whole wheat flour
• 1 1/2 tbs sugar
• 1/2 tsp table salt , +additional for topping          
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 4 tbs unsalted butter
• 1/4 C water

Directions:

1. By hand or food processor: COMBINE the flour, sugar, salt, paprika, and butter until evenly distributed. (I don't have a processor, SIGH, so mixed by hand-I grated the cold butter before mixing). Mix until looks like cornmeal.

                                 Drizzle 1/4 C water and combine and knead until all blended.

  2. Heat oven 400* and either lightly grease baking sheet or line with parchment paper.
  3. Roll half the dough out at a time on floured surface. You want to get it as thin as possible and in much of a rectangle shape as you can. You can recruit a helper ;0

                            Using your pizza, knife or pastry wheel, cut into 1 1/2 inch squares.
 4. Place onto baking sheet, don't need to be spaced to far apart and poke holes into each square using a tooth pick

Sprinkle some salt and bake until golden and crisp ~5-7 minutes depending on thickness 

Cool on baking rack

Store in airtight containers up to 2 weeks.

We like ours with the Garlic Cheese Ball! So YUMMY

Hope you and your family enjoy this alternative to the package kind. We sure do for so many reasons! Happy Snacking!!

Written by Brandi

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Garlic Cheese Ball Recipe

If you love cheese as much as I do then you will go crazy over this CHEESE BALL! I am a cheese ball at heart and this is my new best friend and favorite recipe. It's simple, with few ingredients and makes enough to share with your cheesy friends. My friend Abby was nice enough to share her aunts recipe after making it for a recent holiday party. I didn't leave the cheese balls side, it came to every room I was in, in fear that someone else would devour it all before me.

      This picture only shows half the size this recipe makes bc I made one w/o nuts for my Nut Free hubby.

Ingredients:
-1 8oz package of cream cheese
-1 1/2 pounds of sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
-Mayonnaise (just enough to moisten 1-2 tbsp)
-Fresh garlic -minced 1-10 cloves depending on taste (I put 7-8 cloves in mine)
-Seasoned salt
-Chopped Walnuts

Preparation:
1~Mix softened cream cheese with grated sharp cheddar cheese with enough mayo to moisten. (Use heavy duty mixer, or clean hands)
2~Add garlic and seasoned salt.
3~Roll into a ball, then roll in chopped walnuts.
4~Wrap and place in refrigerator.

                       *****Best if made several hours ahead of time for flavors to blend*****

                       Serve with choice of cracker-we love it with HOMEMADE wheat thins (CLICK FOR RECIPE)

I plan on making this awesome cheese beast for every party I tend, mainly bc I love it and so I don't eat the entire thing by myself! Happy Eating my Cheesy Friends!!

Written and tasted approve by Brandi

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Bubble Burlap Wreath

I love burlap and decorating with it. It can be tricky to cut, but in this wreath tutorial it doesn't matter! Wahoo! Its super easy and turns out really cute. Since burlap is so durable, this wreath can be hung in or out doors. The ribbon or embellishments can be changed seasonally or to match for each holiday.

What You Need:

• 10" foam wreath

• 1 1/4- 1 1/2 yards of burlap (or fabric of choice)    
• pins with large heads
• scissors
• ribbon or way to hang

What to do:

1. Cut burlap into 4x4 inch squares by first cutting it into strips.

Doesn't have to be perfect, but pretty close to same size.

















     2. Fold squares into half to make a triangle

 Fold left corner and bring to meet front and line up corners

    Bring right corner to the back, lining up all corners and making a bubble.







Pin through all four corners using one pin.






  3.Pin the "bubble" to the foam wreath

Keep making and adding bubbles one at a time leaving no gaps. You don't want to see any pins or foam. It helps to pin at an angle.

Bring it all the way to the edge and fill in any spots that show green








  4. To attached ribbon, just loop around and tie up top. ~I made a bow and used glue gun to add

Just fold ribbon in thirds and wrap a piece of burlap around center and use glue gun to secure

Attach using glue gun











That's it!!! Hang it wherever you please. I hung mine with the DIY Banner  I made for the holidays.

Written By Brandi

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Name Sign

I love monograms and signs made out of  last names to represent a family and its unity in the house. I decided to try to make my own instead of buying one and I think it turned out pretty nifty.

I was able to get all the letters off a photo share site called Flicker for free. I printed them up onto regular printer paper and just so happened to have a 5 spaced frame I got from Ikea. But if you don't have an exact spaced frame to fit you name then all you have to do it select the size of your letters to be printed to fit side by side onto your frame.

You can keep it simple or spice it up.

*I decided to spice it up, bc Im that type of gal*

 Cut each letter out, arrange them onto mat of frame and tape or glue them down. Use your glue gun and jute or thick twine to border each letter. Start on bottom right corner and wrap around without cutting until reach starting corner.

If want,  line the outside border of mat with your twine too.

I then made fabric and twine flowers made the same way as in the revamp picture frame and vase to put in corner.

Glue edge and wrap around self and glue at same time. (this one isn't glued-don't want space)

Glue flowers onto frame and if want sand paper edge of frame to to make it look more distressed. Then hang on the wall, That's it!

You can do this for any name, any size! Makes a great gift. Be cute to have the "mat" be burlap or instead of jute use small individual frames inside the big frame. Or get small colored mats for each letter or use scrapbooking paper. The flicker site has tons of letters to make each sign your own!
**If want to know how to make Easy Burlap Wreath or Jute wrapped letter, click on links ;)


Written by Brandi

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Cranberry Orange Sauce

 

I have never been a huge cranberry sauce fan, but when our friend over at Diva Di Cucina shared her yummy recipe, I am now its #1 FAN! I made it for Thanksgiving and it really is fantastic! I plan on making it again as a side to accompany the Turkey I make for our families Xmas Eve dinner(even if I do joke I'm making a TOFURKEY).

 

Its well worth the tiny bit of effort to have such a delicious side! Its recommended to make at least 6 hours ahead of time to let it thicken. Its great bc I can have it done the day before Xmas Eve and ready to go while I prepare all the other food. I doubled the batch last time, but will not next time. This recipe makes plenty the way it is.

   Here's What You Need:

• 2 C Sugar
• 1 orange, juice & zest
• 1 lime, juice & zest
• 1/4 C cider Vinegar
• 1/4 red wine
• 1/2 C dried cranberries
• 1 Cinnamon stick
• 1/4 C grand marnier or other orange liqueur                          
Here's what You Do:

1. Combine sugar, zests, juices, vinegar, wine, dried cranberries, and the Cinnamon stick into a medium size sauce pan.
2. Cook over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves~stirring constantly
3. Bring to a boil, and let boil for 3 minutes



      4. Fold in fresh Cranberries & orange liqueur

5. Simmer and stir occasionally until cranberries start to break open ~15 minutes.
6. Remove from heat & allow to cool before storing in the fridge until ready to serve.


This really is a great side dish! Check out Diva di Cucina for some other yummy recipes.



written by Brandi

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