Baby Bee Diaper Cake

I love to make a diaper cake!

This momma to "bee" registered for Burt's Bees toiletries for the baby.

I used size 1 diapers, and I had a few left over...

so I made "cupcakes!" :-)

You can find directions on how to make a diaper cake here.

You can use all sorts of different themes for diaper cakes.

The possibilities are endless!

They are so fun!

Pumpkin Butter

This is a super quick and easy recipe that is delicious on toast, waffles, and pancakes

 or added to oatmeal.

It also makes a nice gift paired with canned apple jelly.

You will need - 

1  can pumpkin puree

3/4 cup apple cider

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons ginger

1 teaspoon nutmeg

Combine ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.

Lower heat and simmer for about 30 minutes.

Makes 24 ounces.

Will keep in the fridge for about 3 weeks.

Mmmmm!  Fall in a jar!

~homemade christmas~

Most of the gifts that I give at Christmas to friends and family are homemade from my kitchen.

"Consumable" gifts, as my dad calls them.  :-)

This year I tried out gingerbread granola.

I kept a jar for myself and I thought it was really yummy!

I had a unique request from my sister this year.

She asked for a bucket of my homemade laundry detergent.

So I bought her a bucket, made up a batch,

and also included the ingredients for her next batch 

if she decides to continue using it.

I love a homemade Christmas. :-)

~homemade gifts in a jar~

Love, love, love giving gifts in mason jars.

Here are a few ideas of things I've gifted in jars over the years - enjoy!

sugar scrub, lotion, and bath salts

peppermint hot cocoa mix

mocha hot cocoa mix

soup mix

cowboy cookie mix

s'mores mix

candy apple jelly

Mini Zinnias Blooming

Our family received some devastating news week before last.

My mother-in-law was diagnosed with a large brain tumor.

The day that my husband told me the news the first mini zinnia blossomed in my fall cutting garden.

I knew that the first blossoms were meant to be for her.

Right after her surgery I was able to take ten blossoms to her.  

We are waiting for the pathology report to come back.

We know that God is in control.

Soap!

I have a new hobby!  Making soap at home.

No, not the "real" homemade soap with lye and the chance of chemical burns…

  That scares me just a tad. ;-)

Instead, the easy kind, where you use a soap base 

and then add scent, color, herbs, flowers, etc. etc!

The possibilities are endless and I have had more fun getting started.

You can find instructions, recipes and inspiration for making soap all over pinterest.

I started simple this week and bought a soap mold ($2.47 at Hobby Lobby) 

a block of goat's milk soap ($6.59 with my 40% off coupon to Hobby Lobby)

and a block of shea butter soap ($4.99 with my 50% off coupon to Michaels).

I went back to Hobby Lobby two more times this week ;-)

and got some essential oils and dried herbs at 40% off.

For color, I simply used food coloring from the pantry.

I also used a few other items from the kitchen as well.

And, here is what I created… :-)

(Each of the "recipes" I list makes two bars of soap.  With the two blocks of soap base I bought, I made  12 bars of soap and I still have some left over to make 4 more bars.)

~sweet almond oatmeal and honey soap~

(using this one as my face soap - oatmeal and honey are so good for your skin!)

8 cubes of goat's milk soap base

a few drops of sweet almond essential oil

1 tablespoon of honey

1/4 cup of oats (use old fashioned, not quick cooking oats)

1 capful of vitamin E oil

~lemon and poppyseed soap~

(loving using this one in the kitchen!)

8 cubes of shea butter soap base

zest of 1 lemon

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/8 cup of poppy seeds

1 capful of vitamin E oil

2 drops of yellow food coloring

~mint soap~

8 cubes of goat's milk soap base

2 tablespoons of infused mint water

1 capful of vitamin E oil

2 drops of green food coloring

(The infused mint water didn't give me a strong enough scent for this soap, 

so next time I'll probably just get some spearmint or peppermint essential oil.)

~lavender soap~

(perfect for a sleepy time bath)

8 cubes of goat's milk soap base

1 tablespoon of drived lavender

a few drops of lavender essential oil

1 capful of vitamin E oil

1 drop of red and 1 drop of blue food coloring

~orange peel soap~

(for a morning shower, I think!)

8 cubes of shea butter soap base

1 tablespoon of dried orange peel

1 capful of vitamin E oil

1 drop of red and 1 drop of yellow food coloring

(Again, I think I'll get some orange or citrus essential oil next time for this soap.  Also, I want to add some cornmeal to this variety.)

~rose petal soap~

(Mr. H. calls this the "grandma soap!") ;-)

8 cubes of shea butter soap base

a few drops of rose soap scents 

a capful of vitamin E oil

2 drops of red food coloring

A few tips -

Get "suspension formula" soap bases and your add-ins won't sink to the bottom of your soap bars.

No need to buy the special soap colorings - food coloring works just fine.  One drop of coloring per bar of soap is a good rule of thumb.

It takes right at a minute in the microwave to melt 8 cubes of soap base.  I did 30 seconds, stir.

Then 10 seconds, stir 3 times.

Make sure your soap is completely cool before you pop it out of the mold.  Mine took about an hour.

No need to spray anything in the molds to help the soap not to stick.  Mine came out perfect each time.

Never buy anything full price at Hobby Lobby. :-)  Print your 40% off coupon and take your time gathering your supplies.

I do have a question for any experienced soap makers out there -

I am wondering about the shelf life of the soaps that I added organic ingredients to,

like the oats and the lemon zest?  Anyone know?

Next I want to try the clear glycerin soap base and add wildflowers from the backyard.

And a coffee bean soap, how neat would that be?

You can be SO creative with this 

and the possibilities really are endless!

I'm so excited to enjoy these at home 

and to give them as gifts.   

Homemade Pecan Praline Sauce

you will need -

1 1/4 cups chopped pecans

7 tablespoons butter, divided

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

3/4 cup light corn syrup

3 tablespoons flour

2/3 cup evaporated milk

Place pecans and 3 tablespoons butter in a glass bowl.

Microwave 3 minutes, stirring after each minute.

In another glass bowl melt 4 tablespoons butter.

Add brown sugar, corn syrup, and flour.

Stir until combined.

Microwave 3-4 minutes or until sugar is completely dissolved, 

stirring after each minute.

Add pecans and evaporated milk.

Stir well and pour into jars.

Store sauce in refridgerator. 

Will keep three weeks after opening.

Makes approximately 24 ounces of sauce.

Pasta Fagioli Soup Mix

Soup Mix in a Jar!

A favorite homespun holiday gift.

For Pasta Fagioli Soup -

Place 1 cup small pasta shells in the bottom of a large mason jar.

Add a layer of 3/4 cup red beans.

Add a layer of 3/4 cup great northern beans.

And a layer of 1 cup pinto beans. 

Combine spices and place into a small bag.

3 tablespoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon dried oregano 

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried minced onion

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion salt

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1 bay leaf

Fold over bag and staple. 

Carefully place bag on top of beans.

And top with lid.

Add a piece of fabric or ribbon and attach the following recipe to prepare soup.

Additional ingredients needed -

1 can diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon salt

fresh grated parmesan cheese, optional

Carefully remove seasoning packet from jar and set aside.

Remove beans; sort and rinse.

Set pasta aside.

Place beans in a large pot and add 6 cups of water.

Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes.  

Remove from heat; cover and let stand for 1 hour.

Drain and discard liquid.

Return beans to the pot.

Add contents of seasoning packet and 8 cups of water.

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1 hour or until beans are tender.

Add tomatoes and salt; cover and simmer 30 minutes longer, stirring occasionally.

Stir in pasta; cover and simmer for 10 minutes longer or until pasta is tender.

Remove bay leaf before serving.

Top with parmesan cheese if desired and enjoy!

Makes 14 servings.