Nativity Craft

Marsha, Camilee and my Mom came last weekend and we whipped out a ton of nativities. It was so fun. Steve had the boards (8X2's) all cut for us in 12" lengths (55 of them to be exact-I can't do anything in small numbers). We had to sand, stain, cut paper, and mod podge. The paper was a scrapbook nativity scene that I found at Michaels. I ordered most of them online, though. These will be our Christmas gifts this year. I love how they turned out.

(Doesn't Cam look so cute in that apron?)

Curious George Birthday

My friend taught me how to decorate cakes using a coloring page and an overhead transparancy. I put the coloring page under the transparancy and decorated on top. Then I froze the frosting. Then I turned it onto the cake and peeled off the transparancy. I loved how it turned out.

Chicken Pesto Pizza

This is more of a dinner idea than a recipe I suppose...but yummy none-the-less!

Top your favorite pizza crust (or cheat by buying one like I did) with:

Pesto (Costco--or should I say Kirkland--makes really good Pesto sauce)

Cheese

Parmesan Cheese

Tomatoes

Chicken (cooked in a little olive oil with garlic salt and pepper)

and Black Beans

or add whatever else you want! I think black olives would also be a good addition! 

Mandarin Chicken--Panda Express Knock-Off!

I tried this recipe...and YUM! I should have taken pictures...didn't...oh well.

Mandarin Chicken (Panda Express Style) Sauce

2/3 C. sugar
1/4 C. soy sauce
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vegetable oil
1 tsp minced fresh garlic (I never use "fresh" garlic. I always use the pre-minced garlic in the jar from the store)
1/2 tsp minced fresh ginger
1/4 C water
4 tsp arrowroot

Combine sugar, soy sauce, lemon juice, oil, garlic, and ginger in a saucepan.  Combine water with arrowroot ina small bowl and stir until dissolved. The arrowroot will serve as a thickener (much like corn starch--in fact I'm sure you could thicken this recipe with some corn starch instead--just be aware that corn starch seems to thicken better than arrowroot and you would probably not need 4 tsp of corn starch).

Add the arrowroot/water combo to the saucepan and cook on high.  Bring mixture to a boil while stirring often. Once boiling, reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes or until sauce thickens.


Chicken

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salt
Pepper
Garlic Salt

Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt, pepper, and garlic salt (not too much!). Grill in a frying pan with some non-stick cooking spray OR cook them like I did...on the GRILL! YUMMY! Chicken should be browned in spots.

When the chicken is cooked thoroughly, chop into bite size pieces.

Serve the chicken over white rice (I'm a cheater and used Minute Rice).  Drizzle with Mandarin Sauce.


ENJOY!

Apple Struesel Muffins

These muffins are so YUMMY!!! I promise. You'll probably want to double (or even triple) this recipe because you'll want more!

2 C. flour

1 C. sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1/2 C. butter, melted

1-1/4 tsp. vanilla

1-1/2 C. chopped peeled tart apples

STRUESEL TOPPING:

1/3 C. packed brown sugar

1 TBSP. flour

1/8 tsp ground cinnamon

1 TBSP cold butter

In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, butter and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened (batter will be really stiff). Fold in apples. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. In a small bowl, combine the topping ingredients and cut in the butter until crumbly (I cheat and melt the butter). Sprinkle over the batter. Bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing form pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

Play Dough

This is what our Webelos are playing with tomorrow! (for their Craftsmen badge)

PLAY DOUGH

3 c. flour

6 tsp. cream of tartar

3 TBS. Cooking Oil

1 1/2 c. salt

3 c. water

Food color (or a pack of Kool-aid)

Put water and food color together in pan.

Mix dry ingreds together. Add to water.

Cook over med. heat until it forms a ball (doesn't take very long!)

Knead to make it smooth. Cool.

Store in airtight container.

TRUFFLES

Our Head Custodian's wife made these and he brought them into the kitchen to share with us cooks! I'm not a huge fudge fan but these just literally melt in your mouth! She shared the recipe with us so I'll share it with you! (I haven't attempted them yet myself).

1 1/2 lbs. Milk Chocolate - melted
1 cup whipping cream
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla or 5 drops peppermint oil

Line 8" square pan with plastic wrap. Scald cream and let cool for 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla or mint. Beat chocolate with electric mixer. Stop the mixer and add cream all at once. Continue beating, cleaning bottom and side several times until smooth. (1-2 min.) Pour into prepared pan. Cool . Cut into tiny squares.
They melt in your mouth!