homemade pickles

Our little veggie patch is just starting, but I couldn't wait to make a few batches of pickles from store bought ingredients.  Darby's recipe for sweet + crunchy dills is one of my faves...I make it several times every summer...you should try it too!

xoxo

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easter bunny rice krispie treats on a stick

Sometime the simplest ideas are the best ones, no?

These aren't rocket science, I promise.  Just use a bunny cutter to shape a tray of rice krispie treats, insert wooden sticks in the bottoms, then dip in chocolate melts and sprinkle with toppings.  Fun and super easy as a party favor or just a special dessert!

xoxo

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easy st. patrick's day oven s'mores

These easy s'mores are a perfect activity or treat...for St. Patrick's Day...or other holidays...or for any ordinary day!

S'mores don't really need a recipe, but just in case,

you'll need:

graham crackers {we're partial to the cinnamon variety}
flat "stacker" marshmallows {Jet-Puffed makes the ones I buy...there may be other brands}
chocolate bars
small letter or holiday shaped cookie cutters {the simpler and less intricate the better}

Use your cutters to make messages and shapes from the marshmallows.

Then lay out the s'mores on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Place the baking sheet in the oven, set to broil.

They should be done in about a minute...but don't walk away because they can overcook quickly!

Enjoy!
xoxo

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st. patrick's day sprinkle popcorn

I don't think a holiday goes by that I don't make "party popcorn" at least once for my littles. {like here and here!}

Today we rented a movie, pulled out the green sprinkles, and went to town.

I've shared how to make it before, but all you need to do is pop a batch of popcorn, sprinkle with a bit of salt, and then pour melted candy melts or almond bark on the popcorn.  Spread on a sheet of wax paper and douse with festive sprinkles!

Enjoy!

xoxo

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gifting: pretty pom pom loaves of pumpkin bread

I think we all know by now that I love making pretty packages.  No holiday's too small for gifting!

So with Thanksgiving this week, here comes another perfect chance to give beautiful gifts to friends, the neighbors, and even as a special take home to accompany turkey leftovers.

I like to bake it directly in disposable mini loaf pans {available here} and then wrap it in wax paper secured with washi tape.

From there I like to doll up the packaging with yarn pom poms.

If you're not familiar with making poms, this is how I do it:

I wrap yarn around a large serving fork about 75 times.  {I usually get distracted by one of my littles, so some are 60...some are 90...the beauty of handmade is that imperfect is all good, right?}

Then I slide a long piece of yarn through the middle tines of the fork.

I then carefully slide the bundle off the fork and tie it tightly.

Gripping the bundle near the knot, I slide my scissors through the loops and cut them all.'

Then I give the pom a little haircut to even it out. :)

I love a good fluffy pom.  Three of them together is even better.

Then wrap your loaf in thick, fluffy yarn and tie a cluster of poms to it.  Slip in a tag with a sweet message! :)

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! gave me the opportunity to try their newly formulated spread, made from real, simple ingredients you can recognize, like a delicious blend of plant-based oils, purified water and a pinch of salt.  I thought I'd put it to the test baking up these loaves of pumpkin bread.  

If you'd like to try it too, here you go!

you'll need {makes 3 of the 6 inch mini loaves I linked to above}:

1.5 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup canned pumpkin {not pie filling!}
.5 cups butter or I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! spread
2 large eggs
1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
.5 tsp ground ginger

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all ingredients in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping down the sides often, until well mixed {but not overmixed...it gets tough!} 

Pour batter into pans. 

Bake 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. 

Cool completely before wrapping in paper. 

Happy baking!  Happy pom pom making!  Happy gifting!

ps.  If you try this or another recipe using the new I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!, leave a review here!

xoxo

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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halloween hot chocolate spoons

I put together these little treats as favors for friends on Halloween because in Chicago, you never know what kind of trick or treat weather we're going to have.

Usually it's cold.

Or rainy.

Or rainy and cold.

Haha.

Chances are, hot chocolate is going to be a good choice to help warm up no matter what.

The spoons are really easy to make.  All you need is dark chocolate {or whatever flavor you like} bark discs, tiny marshmallows, and some festive sprinkles or tiny candies.

Then just melt down the chocolate according to the package directions and, using a standard metal spoon, carefully fill the wooden spoons with chocolate...it takes very little to fill them, so melt just a handful of chocolate discs at a time.

Before the chocolate cools and sets in the spoon, top with mini marshmallows and sprinkles.

I made the bags but just trimming felt into a pumpkin and gluing it on...and of course added a few little embellishments.

And then on Halloween night, all you need to do is warm up mugs of milk and stir in chocolate with the festive chocolate filled spoons.  So fun and so cute!

Enjoy!!

xoxo

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gifting: fall carrot cake cupcakes in a jar

I'm not yet in the season of my life where I can volunteer at school for my littles...juggling the two youngest or finding a babysitter just isn't practical right now...but when the room moms ask for help putting together a teacher lunch, I'm all over it.

So of course I signed up to bring dessert.

I used Martha's carrot cake recipe and her cream cheese frosting recipe {two of my faves...recipes here and here or in her baking handbook!} and then just fall-ified the jars {because clearly cupcakes in jars are also my fave...here and here!} with leaves, glittery ribbon, and tags.

Festive and fun!  {and it tastes good, too! :)}

xoxo

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halloween sprinkle popcorn

We love sprinkle popcorn to celebrate holidays in our house.

So the other day I pulled out the black and orange Halloween sprinkles and made a batch.
It's seriously so easy...but still so cute...I shared how we do it right here.

The boys went crazy over the spiders on the bowls...they're just spider rings that I cut a slit in the ring and slipped over the edge of the bowls!

xoxo

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the first day of fall + caramel apples in a box

Happy first day of fall, friends!

You may remember I gifted caramels and apples to our teachers last year...and I was at it again today.

I did mix it up a tiny bit and included honey crisp apples this year...mainly because the granny smiths I originally picked didn't fit as nicely in the boxes. ;)

The caramels are the same...I used my favorite microwave recipe.

I kept the packaging simple...kraft box, paper shreds, and tied with a gingham ribbon and hand stamped tag.

And that's it...a simple little gift to welcome in our new season!
xoxo

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movie night treats: chocolate & sprinkle dipped mini peeps

Pretty much anything in miniature is awesome.
And pretty much anything dipped in chocolate and covered in sprinkles is awesome.
So mini peeps dipped in chocolate and sprinkles made for a super cute treat for our movie night this weekend.

This is one of the least original ideas ever...I like it anyway. ;)

Just melt chocolate, dip the peeps in, and roll 'em around in sprinkles.
So easy a sleep-deprived mama holding a newborn can do it.

I have a serious love of packaging things in berry baskets.

Mini flags with a mini clothespin on top of mini peeps.
Too much?
Haha.

All ready to bring to our backyard movie night date.
xoxo

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4th of july sprinkle popcorn

To call this a recipe is giving myself too much credit, especially since it's been done a million times before.

But...

it's festive and it's fun and my littles get a kick out of sprinkles on pretty much anything {who am I kidding...I do too.}

To make it, you'll need:

1/2 cup or so unpopped popcorn

about half a bag of white Wilton candy melts {buy them at the craft store}

salt {teeny salt shaker project details here}

sprinkles

Then all you have to do is:

pop the popcorn {I always make ours on the stove} and sprinkle it lightly with salt

melt the candy in the microwave {our microwave usually takes about a minute at 50% power}

pour the melted candy over the popcorn and toss to coat

spread the melty mixture on a sheet of wax paper and sprinkle away!

xoxo

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a new fave: tres leches cake

Hola amigos!

Since I'm off the margaritas this Cinco de Mayo, I thought I'd try something new...tres leches cake.
And...wow.
Just.
Wow.
How have I never had this before??
It's my new fave.

I used Pioneer Woman's recipe...because seriously, she can do no wrong.
Go make it.
You won't be sorry.  Promise!

xoxo

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