Sunday, July 12, 2009

Toaster Waffle Sandwich


Another super yummy treat... Breakfeast for dinner anyone?


Prep Time: 5 min Total Time: 5 min Makes: 1 serving


What You Need


2 frozen waffles
2 frozen BOCA Meatless Breakfast Links
1 KRAFT 2% Milk Sharp Cheddar Singles
1/4 of a medium apple, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. cinnamon sugar
1 cup 1% milk
Make It
TOAST waffles as directed on package. Meanwhile, microwave breakfast links as directed on package.
PLACE 2% Milk Singles on 1 of the waffles. Cover with apple, cinnamon sugar and breakfast links; top with remaining waffle. Cut in half.
SERVE with milk.
thanks,
frances ;o)

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Rain Sticks that really do sound like rain.

Looking for a great idea to keep the kids busy… how about these Rain Sticks? I came across this cute craft looking for something to do with my daughter. She had a blast. Here is the link... and the instructions…

Materials: long tubes from gift wrap or paper towel, strips of cardboard, paper, tape, seeds or rice

  • Cut out two 4 inch circles out of the paper (trace a cereal bowl for the shape). Put one over the end of the tube, and fold the sides down, and tape around the tube. Make sure it is well taped on and use sturdy paper so that your Rain Stick won't leak!

  • Cut cardboard strips are narrower than the tube (about 1 inch wide should work). Fold them back and forth like a fan. Put the strips into the tube.

  • The first one should fall to the bottom of the tube. Keep adding strips until they reach the top of the tube.

  • Pour in 1/4 cup of rice and 2 tbsp of seeds (dried peas, popcorn, or lentils) into the tube.

  • Tape the other circle over the open end of the tube and tape in place.

  • Decorate the tube with markers, paints or by gluing on paper or ribbon.


Decorating the sticks can be the most fun. The kids can decorate the sticks before or after they have filled them. Just remember that paper circles will be taped part way down the sides if the kids want to do the decorating first.

thanks,

Frances ;o)

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Kids Can Cook: Cookies & Creme Pudding Pops


These inexpensive treats make for big smiles. Your kids will love the step-by-step directions, perfect for little hands. YUMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!


What You Need:
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) Jell-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
2 cups cold milk
6 Oreo Cookies
1⁄2 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping
Make It
1. BEAT pudding mix and milk in large bowl with whisk 2 min.
2. PLACE cookies in resealable plastic bag; seal bag. Use rolling pin to crush cookies.
3. ADD cookies and Cool Whip to pudding; stir just until blended.
4. SPOON into 9 small paper or plastic cups.
5. INSERT wooden pop stick or plastic spoon into each for handle. Freeze 5 hours or until firm.
PREP: 10 min. plus freezing
thanks,
frances ;o)

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Etsy shop love...









How is this for a whole lotta fun! A perfect gift for the steam punk lover in your life, young or just young at heart; Gun is plastic painted, aged, and treated with a glossy sealant for your destroying pleasure. Delight in seeing the faces of your foes go pale with fear and the knowledge of their certain doom when you whip out The Demoralizer. Small enough to stash away if the need arises yet powerful enough to take down an entire fleet of airship pirates...well...maybe a couple airship pirates. Also check out the Sassafrass 3000! Set your sights on your enemies and then disintegrate them to a fine dust with the Sassy's precision laser system. A converted water gun made of plastic. It has been painted, aged, and sealed with a gloss. The gun cannot be used as a water gun. The trigger has been treated so that it cannot be pulled as this could expose the original plastic on the trigger.
Click here for more info RiverWraith.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Bread!!!!!!!!!

I love bread… So I tried a crazy recipe yesterday for a no knead recipe. Well it didn’t quite come out the way I wanted. So today I am trying something else a new recipe from Tyler Florence from the Food Network. The recipe is below; I will let you know how it turns out. Cross your fingers!!!!!!!
Frances ;o)


Wonderful White Bread
Ingredients
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter
1 package (1 tablespoon) rapid-rising dry yeast
2 tablespoons sugar or honey
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 egg whites, divided and slightly beaten
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions
In a small saucepan, heat the milk with butter over low heat just until the butter melts. Remove from heat and add to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook. Proof the yeast by adding it to the warm milk and butter. Add the sugar and stir gently to dissolve. Let stand 3 minutes until foam appears. This indicates the yeast is active. Turn mixer on low and gradually add the flour. When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium and add the salt and 1 egg white. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Mix until the dough is no longer sticky, about 10 minutes.

Turn the dough onto the work surface and knead for a minute or so by hand. Knead by folding the dough over itself and pushing out with the heel of your hands, not down. Rotate the dough and repeat. The dough is properly kneaded when you can pull it and it stretches without breaking. Form the dough into a round and place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat the entire ball with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise over a gas pilot light on the stovetop or in another warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Test the dough by pressing 2 fingers into it. If indents remain, the dough is adequately risen.

Once the dough is doubled and domed, turn it out onto the counter. The act of turning out the dough naturally deflates the gas, so there is no need to aggressively punch it down. Handle the dough gently, overworking the gluten at this point will produce a dense loaf that is difficult to shape. *To form a loaf, pat the dough into a rectangle, fold the long sides to the middle then fold under the ends. Pinch the seams closed and place in a greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pan, seam side down. Make sure the dough touches all sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise a second time for 20 minutes or until the top of the dough is nearly level with the top of the loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, place a large pan on the bottom rack of the oven. Bring 3 cups water to a boil on the stove. Pour the hot water into the preheated pan to create a steam bath for the bread. This will make a crisp crust.

Slash dough down the middle of the loaf with a sharp knife to allow the steam to escape during baking. Brush the top with remaining beaten egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake the bread for 30 to 40 minutes until crust is golden and internal temperature reads 195 degrees F when checked with an instant read thermometer. The bottom of the loaf should sound hollow when tapped. Immediately remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on a rack.
* Variation: To make Cinnamon-Raisin Swirl Bread: after the first rise, press the dough out to a rectangle, sprinkle surface with cinnamon and raisins to cover. Roll up like a jellyroll, pinch the seams closed and continue as directed in the recipe.

...

We had a great time at FSC. Julie was a little shooked at all of the costumes, but it was fun. Pictures will be up soon. We are working on some new items that will also be up on the shop soon.
Frances ;o)

Friday, June 5, 2009

Florida Supercon Don't Miss out!

MindyandLola will be at Florida Supercon this weekend. Come by and say hi!


SOUTH FLORIDA'S COMIC BOOK, ANIME, ANIMATION, COSPLAY, FANTASY& VIDEO GAME FESTIVAL
WHEN : JUNE 5, 6 & 7 2009
WHERE: THE DOUBLETREE MIAMI MARTAIRPORT CONVENTION CENTER
711 NW 72ND AVE., MIAMI, FL. 33126

FRI, JUNE 5TH FROM 3:30PM - 2:00AM
SAT, JUNE 6TH FROM 11:00AM - 3:00AM
SUN, JUNE 7TH FROM 1 1:00AM - 6:00PM

Tooth Fairy Slideshow