Carmel Corn………….

I had to share this one……..

This is my friend Raimi’s recipe.  And I think it may actually come from a friend of hers!  It is the BEST Carmel corn I have ever had.  I hope you try it!

2 bags of microwave popcorn
1 cup brown sugar
1 cube butter
14 large marshmallows

On stove:
Melt butter, sugar,and marshmallows.  Cook 6-7 minutes (do NOT boil) Pour over cooked popcorn.  Make sure you have it in a big bowl…..like above picture!  Coat with spoon.

Also…..MAKE sure you remove ALL kernels from the microwave popcorn!  You don’t want anyone breaking a tooth!
If you spray your hand with Pam…..you can easily make these into popcorn balls!

Lisa Is Da-Bomb………..

So I know I have told you before that Lisa is Da-Bomb.

Well I just thought I would share with you HOW in fact she is!

  The vamp is my favorite of course!  Thank you Lis.  This made my day!  Love ya!

Red Hot Sugar Cookies………

I found these in my Better Homes and Gardens magazine.
They are super yummy.  Especially right out of the oven.  The red hots are a little mushy.  {They harden back up once they cool.}

This is before I baked them.
After….

2 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
Large bag of Red Hots {I found mine at the dollar store}

Heat oven to 375.  In small bowl sift together flour, baking soda, and baking powder: set aside.
In large mixing bowl beat butter with electric mixer on medium to high speed 30 seconds.  Add sugar: beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in as much flour mixture as you can with mixer.  {I was able to mix in all} stir in remaining by hand.
Use your cookie scooper to form balls.  Place on ungreased cookie sheets.  Use bottom of glass to flatten cookies.  Lightly press in candies.  Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden.  Cool on cookie sheets for 2 minutes. Move to racks to cool.
Makes 36 cookies
Each cookie:
91 calories
4 grams fat
15 mg chol
59 mg sodium
13 grams carbo
0 gram fiber
1 gram pro
Daily Values:
2% vit. A
1% calcium
2% iron

Chicken –n-Dumplings…………….

This is my friend Tiffani.  We have been friends for over 14 years!  Wow.  Lots of changes in our lives in all those years.  She lives in Washington and I have not seen for her a long while…..I miss her tons- and think about her & her family all the time!  She is super happy with her boyfriend and I am super happy that she is super happy!  I am also happy that we are able to stay better connected thru Facebook.

I wanted to share a recipe that is her original.  She is an amazing cook.  I make this all the time for my family!  Many of my favorites that I use all the time come from Tiff!

3 cans chicken broth
3 carrots {peeled and diced}
3 celery stalks {diced}
1/3 cup onion {chopped}
2 cups cooked chicken
1/2 cup butter|
2 1/2 cups Bisquick
2/3 cup milk

Put the chicken broth, carrots, celery, and onion together in a pot, cover and bring to boil.  Let boil for about 15 minutes or until veggies are soft.  In a separate saucepan, cook butter and 1/2 cup Bisquick until smooth and bubbly, remove from heat.  Remove all the veggies from the broth and bring back to boil.  Add the cooked butter-Bisquick mixture.  Stir for 1 minute.  {Will become foamy at first.}  Reduce heat, add veggies and chicken.  Mix milk and remaining Bisquick in a separate bowl.  Add spoonfuls to veggie-broth-chicken mixture.  Cook 10 minutes uncovered, and 10 minutes covered.  Enjoy!

RAK.................................

Nothing is better than going out to your mail box and finding a little surprise! And WOWSERS was it ever! My friend Jen sent me a awesome RAK!

She sent a sweet little card, notepad, lots of "Twilighty" paper, ribbon, jewels, brads, flowers, etc. And then this awesome necklace that has two charms that I can swap out on it! Check it out..............

If you want to see more of her work- and some new pendants that she has for sale....... make sure to go here to check out her site! Thanks Jen for thinking of me! I feel very special!!!!!

This Is What I Did Today............

About 1,600 boxes worth.............
Nice huh?????

Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies...........

Here is a quick and easy holiday cookie.

1 bag of the above
Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix
fix as directions instruct- adding 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

Frost with Betty Crocker white frosting
add 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

Bake cookies as instructed
Let cool
Frost

Crush candy canes (I double bag a ziploc)
Sprinkle 1 small spoonful onto each cookie.

Friday Favorite Five..............

Our school participated in Plant the Promise for red ribbon week- Just say no to drugs.
Here is some more info on the program if you would like to promote it for your school.
All three of the kids got to go plant their own red tulip bulb. We went up and took pictures while the markers are still in the ground with their names on it. Not only do I think this is wonderful that the kids are learning about this and making the promise to be drug free. I also find it so significant because I will have all 3 of my kids in this school for the next two years before Alissa goes to middle school. I have said it before- and I will say it again.... I LOVE OUR SCHOOL!
I can not wait until spring when the tulips bloom. Every time I drive by the school I will see not only the 800+ flowers planted- but more specifically the three SPECIAL ones that my children put in the ground.............


Alissa's..............
Jacob's............
Logan's..............
A good view of all the bulbs. They were planted right in front of the school- under the principals office window.
Jacob's site words................cut............with magnets added..................
My FAVORITE store..................Love the product, the ladies that work there, and all the friends I have made here!
Candy cane Oreo's...................
Thanks Leigh Anne..............I rushed out and got these.
One word- YUMMY!
Leigh Anne has been playing along and making some fun posts! I told her it is bad because then I want ALL the items she is listing!!!!!
Dude- I must be needing some COOKIES huh? Two of my favorite things are cookies?????

Fall Feast..................................

This is what I did yesterday...............


Alissa's teacher does a FEAST every year in his class. He got us room mom's together and said it is a big deal. turkeys, hams, food, food, food! And lots of people!
Lisa , Anne and I (room mom's) have been busy planning the feast these last few weeks! Over 80 people turned up for the event! It was wonderful- lots of great food, getting to know the parents, and lots of proud kids!
Here is Mr. Knox bringing the kids in for the FEAST!Everyone feasting..............
My partners in crime...................
Lisa!
And Anne!
(Sweet Anne cooked TWO turkeys for the class!!!!)





Turkey craft Logan made in art club..............
(Had to throw it in- cause it is sooo stinkin' cute!)

Pilgrim hats I made for the Feast.............

You can make them too:
1 cup vanilla frosting
7 drops yellow food coloring
32 miniature peanut butter cups
1 package fudge- stripped cookies
32 pieces orange mini Chiclets gum (I could not find- so I used Orange tic-tacs!)

Mix food coloring into frosting. Remove paper liners from PB cups. Dip top of PB cup into frosting. Position over the bottom of the cookie - push down forming hatband of Pilgrims hat.
And the gum to make the buckle of the hat!
Should make 32 cookies!

These are the thank you cards I made to thank to local business establishments that kindly donated one ham and one turkey! I am having the kids all sign them!


It was a great time! We had lots of parent & student help- so it went very smoothly!!!!

Crockpot Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe.............

Okay I just HAD to share this! I am not sure if you have heard of this blog or not......
A Year Of Crockpotting
My friend Lisa sent it to me. (I talk about her a lot huh?) Here is a picture to remind you what she looks like:

Cute isn't she?
She sent me this link to this blog! I just LOVE it! I also LOVE my crockpot. Anyhoo- I have been trying lots of these recipes. I tried these pumpkin spice lattes and had to share. Yum! Click here
if you would like to give them a try. I used the picture from the gal's web page of her latte- since like a dork I forgot to snap a picture.
Bless this lady's heart- she has been posting a recipe all year long! She adds pictures of all the ingredients like this one below for the lattes.


Then she also lists the ingredients, directions, and the verdict. The best part is she says what her and her husband thought - and get this.....her KIDS! LOVE that!
So take a minute and go check it out. Also take a minute to tell LISA that is about time she got a BLOG!

Halloween Goodies For Teachers & Cookie Tip................

So again....if you did not read the other posts- Halloween is my favorite. So of course I had to make some goodies for the kids teachers.
Alissa made these little "snugs" to fit around the yummy Starbucks chocolate! She did ALL the work herself! I think they turned out really cute! She had to make about 20 of the stamp images- so she could pick the ones she liked best! (I don't know where she gets that from?) Haha

These are little pizza boxes that I made to go with the chocolate. I found the template at SCS. Jen del Muro made it. Click here if you would like the template. They are very simple and fun to make!

I put a bag of yummy cocoa inside................



Okay now for the TIP..........
I usually make my cookies from scratch- however the kids LOVE these holiday pre-made cookies!
Did you know you can slice them in half to make 2 cookies out of the one? They come out a little smaller, and you cook them a little less. They are perfect for taking to school to share. You figure with all the treats coming in- this cookie is perfect! Just a little bite for each child. Not a FULL sugar cookie. So I took 2 packs (24 count each) sliced them all in half and made 96 mini cookies! That allows Jacob to take 20 + to his class, 20 + for Logan, and 32 + for Alissa's class. And leaves some leftovers for my kids too! They actually turn out to be about the size of a silver dollar! Give it a try!

Have a SAFE and HAPPY Halloween!