Kids Craft...Halloween Pumpkins

My kids had a Primary Activity this past Saturday and came home with the cutest little crafty pumpkins. So when Dallin took his apart, I had the girls show me how to put it back together. All you need is:

12x12 square piece of fabric of choice

empty paper towel cardboard, cut into 2 inch piece

plastic sacks (2-3)

2-3 inch long piece of a branch

Hot glue gun and glue stick

Center cardboard circle in middle of fabric (on the wrong side) and wrap plastic sacks around it evenly.

Hold sacks in place while folding fabric into the "hole." When all fabric has been folded in, glue "stem" into place with a big glob of hot glue. They stay together better if the stem is pushed down further.TA DA! Sariah even finished hers off with a cute little jack-o-lantern face made out of felt.

72-Hour Kits

My sisters and I have been talking what kind of things we always "want" to do but put off doing either because it seems like no fun or because it seems like a huge job. We've decided to spend one day per month focusing on something. For example, this month we're going to get together on a given day and put together our 72 hour kits. The idea is to have everything we need so we can organize and put them together all in one day. So for this week, I am focusing on the toiletries and personal care for each individual in our family. Next week, I'll focus on clothing and bedding. By the end of September when we get together, I hope to have everything in a big ol' bag, and all I'll have left is to organize. I like this idea because I know that my sisters will have some great ideas that I never would have thought of, and hopefully vise versa. We can help each other and become more emergency prepared all while enjoying one anothers company! If anyone is interested in joining us, leave a comment!

Alice Springs Chicken.....Outback Steakhouse!

When I go to Outback Steakhouse....I always order the same thing. The Alice Springs Chicken! I know I can't go wrong with it. So then it occured to me....why not try making it. I did a little searching, and wha-la, I found the recipe. It is so yummy.....of course I have to leave the mushrooms off when I make it for my family cuz I'm the only one that likes them, but it doesn't matter, this is one awesome recipe!

8 bacon strips

8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts halves

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1 cup honey

8 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

4 Tbsp. mayonnaise

4 Tbsp. light corn syrup

2 tsp. dried minced onion

1 cup sliced fresh muchrooms

1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Remove to paper towels; set aside. Flatten chicken to 1/2 inch thickness; sprinkle both sides with seasoned salt. Brown in bacon drippings. Transfer to a baking pan coated with cooking spray (I also line mine with foil). In a small bowl, combine the honey, mustard, mayonnaise, corn syrup and onion; spread half of it over the chicken. Top with crumbled bacon and mushrooms. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Serve with remaining honey mixture.....

New Young Women Theme

I've been relieved to find out that I'm not the only one waiting for the church to have the new Young Women Theme on a poster to order. And I'm impatient. So since I can't get my computer to download the ones on sugardoodle.net, I decided to come up with one on my own. Here's what I came up with...

Dang it...I need a new camera!

I was getting ready to take pictures of Jimmy's graduation cake that I made, but got sidetracked taking a cute picture of Dallin licking the beaters. Anyway, as soon as the flash went of the camera shut down, and hasn't wanted to come on again. We've tried everything!!! So now I've got to save the pennies until we have enough for a new camera. Hope I don't miss too much!

I made this one up all by myself....

When Christopher and I went to San Diego in February, we ate some yummy food. One of my favorites was this Black Bean Soup from the restaurant at our hotel. So I did some looking, and after NOT finding a recipe, I decided to make it up myself. It's a spicy soup, and I'm not big on salt, so this recipe fits my taste, but salt could be added, or the pepper could be omitted.

Ingredients:

1 can black beans

1/2 cup water

1/8 tsp. garlic salt

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

sour cream

pico de gallo

Drain black beans and rinse well. Blend in blender to liquid state...then add water (more if you want it thinner) and transfer to saucepan. Add garlic salt and cayenne pepper, and heat through. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and pico de gallo.

Serves. 1 (since I am the only one in my family that will touch black beans.)

I forgot how much I enjoyed this.....

It's been 6 1/2 years since I made cakes for my sister's wedding...and even longer since I took the Wilton Cake Decorating Class. So when I was asked to do a cake for this birthday party, I was excited and nervous. But I dug out the ol' class manual, and before long I was having a blast making flowers. I have to admit, it turned out much better than I thought it would, although not as good as I pictured. Isn't that the way it always goes?! But cake decorating is FUN!