Oatmeal Bath

My kids have very dry skin, and this is an inexpensive way to give them the luxury of having an oatmeal bath anytime they want. Great for those with eczema or sunburns too!

Supplies:
Quick cooking oats

Directions:
Place dry oats into a coffee grinder, blender or food processor. Grind until very fine & store in an airtight container. (6 cups of whole oats made 1 quart of oatmeal bath) To use in the bath dissolve 1/4-3/4 cup of ground oats in the bath water. Soak & rinse.

Kettle Corn

I have been told this is the "best popcorn in the world." Whenever I bring it to a gathering I always get requests for the recipe!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup corn oil
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup popping corn

Directions:
1. Heat the oil, sugar and popcorn in a large pot on high.
2. Using hot pads hold the lid on while shaking the popcorn frequently. Because of the sugar - it is important to keep shaking it every few seconds or it will burn.
3. When the popping slows down - remove from heat and add salt to taste.
4. Pour into a bowl and allow to cool. It will harden as it cools - toss it gently to loosen. Makes approx. 10 cups of popcorn or enough to fill 2 medium tins.

Hand Warmers - Simple Photo Tutorial

These Homemade Hand Warmers are the perfect size for chilly hands to snuggle with. Just pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute then slip them in your coat pockets on your way outside to play in the snow. (They also work as mini-ice packs for kids when you put them in the freezer)

 

Supplies:
1/2 cup to 1 cup long grain rice (not minute rice!!) PER set of 2
1/4 yard of flannel (makes 10 sets)
(sewing machine)

Directions:

1. Fold fabric in half with wrong side facing out. Cut fabric into 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch squares. You will end up with 40 squares. Sew pairs together wrong-side facing out on three of the 4 sides, leaving one side open.

2. Turn them right-side out and fill each warmer with 1/4 to 1/2 cup of rice.

 

3. Fold over a 1/4 inch seam and sew together, keeping as close to the edge as you can.

 

 

 4. Trim thread and you are done! :)



DIY Mug

As you probably know homemade gifts are always welcomed and DIY mugs are very popular this year!!! You can find plain white mugs at the dollar store and pack of Sharpies most places office supplies are sold. Grab a big pack full of lots of colors and have fun!! Decorate your mugs then bake at 350 for 30 minutes to make your design permanent. :)

 

Fool's Toffee

This fast and easy toffee is always a hit - one batch makes enough for 6-10 gift tins. :) I purchased tins and holiday liners from the dollar store plus the ingredients for 10 small gifts for less than $20.

 

Ingredients:
1 box Saltines
3 cups butter
3 cups packed brown sugar
3 bags semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 bags chopped nuts

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a jelly roll pan with tin foil. Place a single layer of crackers on the pan. Meanwhile, boil sugar and butter stirring frequently for 2-3 minutes.

Pour hot caramel over crackers and spread evenly. Bake crackers for 5 minutes. After removing from the oven, sprinkle chocolate chips over hot crackers immediately.

Once they have started to melt, spread evenly over crackers and top with nuts. Allow to cool for at least 12 hours for chocolate to set. Once chocolate is firm break into pieces and place into tins.

Magnetic Frames

These magnetic frames are such an easy way to dress up your fridge! Just attach extra strong magnets to the back of frames from the dollar store with a hot glue gun. Then place over you favorite kids drawings, Christmas cards or pictures. You can also use the glass to write notes to your love with a dry erase marker. ;)

Homemade Hot Cocoa Mix

Pair this creamy homemade cocoa mix with chocolate dipped plastic spoons, a plain white mug & a sharpie for a complete DIY gift.

Ingredients:
2 cups sifted Hershey's cocoa powder
2 cups dry milk powder
1 cups powdered sugar
3/4 cup powdered coffee creamer (try seasonal favorites like egg nog, pumpkin spice, or peppermint)

Recipe yields 1qt jar. Stir 3 heaping spoonfuls of cocoa mix into hot water or milk. Enjoy topped with whip cream or marshmallows!!

**Use the sharpie to decorate your own mug them bake at 180 degrees for 30 minutes to make it permanent.**

Fingerprint Nativity Cards

These adorable Christmas cards are sure to bring a smile to your loved ones this year! Grab your kiddos and let's get started!!!

Supplies:
8.5x11 white card stock
Ink pads
Fine tip markers

Directions:
1. Cut the card stock pages in half to yield 5.5x8.5 sheets. Fold each of these in half to create your cards.

2. Place a fingerprint for baby Jesus in the center of the page and one for Mary and Joseph on either side. Tilting them slightly towards the manger to give the appearance of bowing. Place three fingerprints to one side of the manger that will become the three wise men, and two on the other side that will become shepherds. Finally, place a fingerprint at the top to make an angel.

3. Draw a open house surrounding Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, a manger beneath baby Jesus and a star above the house.

4. To draw the details on the characters... draw small arcs for closed eyes, crowns on the wise men, and shepherds croaks for the shepherds. Draw wings and a halo on the angel and a small o mouth for a singing mouth.

5. To draw the head coverings for Mary, Joseph & the shepherds - start by drawing a curve from the forehead to the back of the head. Next draw the back of the covering beginning your line at the forehead where you started the curve and following the outline of the head down the 'back'. Finally, draw the front of the covering from the ear-line of the covering downward meeting at the bottom if the back line in one continuous line. (See illustration above) They don't have to look perfect - the imperfections are part of the charm.

6. Finish your cards with a greeting and fingerprint family signature inside!! :)

These go quickly once you have done a few. Line up a bunch of cards side by side and finish one step at a time. Or set up an assembly line with each person assigned a specific element if the cards. Put on some Christmas music and enjoy a special time with your kids creating the adorable JOY offerings.

PS - Just as a heads up....your fingers will probably be stained for a day or two after ;) 

Freezer Meals: White Chicken Chili

Prep Time: 1 hour or less if you have precooked chicken

Ingredients:
3 cups cooked chicken, chopped
1 small onion, diced
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups green chili
2 cans great white northern beans, rinsed and drained

Directions:
Combine all ingredients and freeze in a ziplock bag.

To Prepare: Defrost overnight, cook in crockpot 4-6 hours on high, or all day on low. Serve topped with cream cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and tortilla chips.

More Ideas for Soups from the Freezer:
Black Bean Soup
Minestrone
Chicken Noodle Soup
Taco Soup
Baked Potato Soup
Squash Bisque

Freezer Meals: Baked Macaroni

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients:
16 oz uncooked macaroni
16 oz sour cream
16 oz cottage cheese
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup milk
2 cups sliced hot dogs or cocktail wieners (optional)

Directions:
Purée sour cream, cottage cheese, cheddar cheese and milk. Combine with macaroni and hot dogs. Freeze until ready to cook.

To prepare: Defrost overnight. Bake for 1-1 1/2 hours at 350 degrees F. Or in the crockpot for 3-4 hours on low.

More Ideas for Pasta:
Lasagna
Baked Pasta
Manicotti
Stuffed Shells
Minestrone
Pesto

Freezer Meals: Chicken Divine

Prep Time: 1 hour or less if you have cooked chicken on hand

Ingredients:
2 cups chicken, shredded
2 cups broccoli, lightly cooked and chopped
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup mayo
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup dried bread crumbs

Directions:
Mix together cream of chicken soup and mayo. Layer ingredients in a freezer safe baking dish as follows: (from bottom) chopped broccoli, shredded chicken, cream mixture, shredded cheese, bread crumbs. Cover with aluminum foul and freeze for up to 2 months.

To use, defrost overnight then bake at 350 degrees F for 30-40 minutes. Serve over rice.

More Freezer Meal Ideas for Chicken:
White Chicken Chili
Chicken Pot Pie
Taco/Burrito Filling
Enchiladas
BBQ Chicken Sandwich Filling
White Chicken Lasagna
Marinated Chicken Breasts

Freezer Meals: Meatballs

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1 cup dry stuffing mix
2/3 cup milk
1 egg
1/4 cup diced onion
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach, thawed and moisture rung out well!

Directions:
Crumble spinach into the beef mixture and combine ingredients well. Using a melon baller make small 1 inch meatballs. Place on a lightly greased baking sheet or other non-stick baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool to room temperature. Freeze in a single layer on a cookie lined with parchment, then store frozen in a ziplock bag for 1-2 months.

To reheat bake frozen meatballs for 30 minutes or in the crockpot with sauce of your choice at least 3-4 hours.

More Beef Freezer Meal Ideas:
Pot Roast*
Shepherds Pie*
Taco Filling
Enchiladas
Burritos
Meatloaf
Sloppy Joes
Chili
Lasagna

*Raw potatoes do not freeze well, make sure they are cooked for several minutes before freezing. Milk should be added to mashed potatoes after thawing to avoid runny potatoes.

Homemade Muffin Mix

Prep Time: 10 minutes max
Total Cost: Less than $20 for full recipe (add $10 for gift jars). Approx. $2-$3 each.

Muffin Mix
(Makes 17 cups or 9 dozen muffins)
Five pound bag all-purpose flour

3 ¾ cup white sugar

12 oz Dry Buttermilk Powder

4 ½ Tbsp Baking Powder

1 ½ Tbsp Baking Soda

1 ½ Tbsp Salt

1 ½ Tbsp ground cinnamon

1 ½ tsp ground nutmeg

- - Combine all ingredients well with a whisk and store in a large airtight container. (Recipe adapted from the original posted on grouprecipes.com)

To give as gifts, place 2 3/4 cups mix in quart sized jars and attach baking instructions (below). A muffin cup turned upside-down fits nicely over the lid of the jar, tied with rafia makes a quick & easy finish. :)

To Make Muffins:
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup water
1/2 cup oil
2 3/4 cup muffin mix
1 cup mix-ins (fruit/nuts/baking chips)

- - Combine ingredients until moistened. Scoop into greased muffin cups. Bake at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes.

Here are a few of my favorites:
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bran Muffins
2 cups Muffin Mix
1/2 cup oats
1/2 cup Kellogg's Bran Buds
2 eggs
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup apple butter (or cinnamon apple sauce)

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 1/2 cup muffin mix
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup water
1/2 cup softened butter

Homemade Brownie Mix

Brownie Mix
(makes 8 cups/4 batches)
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
4 cups white sugar

- - Combine ingredients with a whisk and store in an airtight container.

Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies
2 cups Brownie Mix
1/2 cup oil*
1-2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter, softened

*NOTE: Oil may be substituted with applesauce or yogurt to reduce fat & calories.

- - Mix together brownie mix, oil, eggs and vanilla until moistened. Pour into a greased 8x8 pan (thick), or 8x13 pan (thin). Drop spoonfuls of softened peanut butter on the brownie batter and swirl in with a knife. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.