Easy, Affordable Homemade Yogurt

Several years ago, when I got my first dehydrator, I tried making homemade yogurt using the recipe and instructions that came with the dehydrator.  I don't quite recall the recipe, but I remember it included powdered milk, an ingredient I don't usually have on hand.  The yogurt containers that came with the dehydrator held much less than would satisfy my family.  In the end, the attempt failed.  None of the four containers produced any yogurt, just a soupy mess.  Long story short, since then I thought making yogurt at home was costly and difficult.  Wow!  Was I wrong!

Fast forward to last summer.  One of my favorite books I read last summer was "Making It" by Kelly Coyne & Erik Knutzen.  One of the projects they describe in the book is making yogurt.  They made it sound so simple!  I just had to give it another try.  After a quick Google search, I found a website aptly named MakeYourOwnYogurt.  The entire site is all about making yogurt.  It is very in-depth.  If you are not sure about any of the steps I list, just check this site.  In a nutshell, here are the instructions...

You will need milk.  I used whole milk, as that is what we usually buy.  I like my dairy products rich and creamy.  However, you can use whatever you usually buy.  Remember, the point of this is to be able to make delicious yogurt for less than you can buy it.  The amount of milk will depend on the amount of yogurt you want to make.  You will actually make the same amount of yogurt as the amount of your milk, but end up with less finished product depending on how thick or thin you like your yogurt.  You will also need a few tablespoons of good quality, plain yogurt.  No sugar added, no flavoring added.  Be sure the yogurt you choose to use as your starter contains active bacteria.  (Before you flavor or sweeten your finished product, be sure to save a few tablespoons to use as a starter for your next batch.)

You will also need a thermometer.  I suppose you don't actually need one, but it will be helpful.  Finally, you will need some sort of double boiler.  I don't have one, but it just so happens that the ceramic insert to my slow cooker fits perfectly on top of my 8 quart stock pot.  Pour your milk into your top pot.  Put enough water in your bottom pot to come up to the top of your milk (like a water bath).  Bring the water to a boil and heat your milk until it reaches about 185º.  Keep the milk at that temperature for 20-30 minutes.

Next, place the milk in an ice bath to quickly cool it to about 108º.  Alternatively, you can also let the milk cool on it's own, but I like to get it done quickly.

Once your milk is cool, add your 2-3 tablespoons of plain yogurt.  Stir to combine them.

This is the part that might take a little trial and error.  You need to keep your milk-yogurt mixture warm (at about 108º) for about seven hours.  I have read that some people simply let it ripen overnight, but I like to start mine in the morning and let it ripen all day.  The best way I have found to keep it warm is to have my mixture in the slow cooker insert, wrapped in a warm towel, in my oven.  Usually, about halfway through the seven hours, I have to turn my oven on for a minute or two to warm it back up, but that is all I have to do.  Salad In A Jar, and ehow both have lists of other ways to keep your mixture warm during the ripening process.  I highly recommend checking them out to see what method might be most convenient for you.

 

After about seven hours, you have yogurt.  However, it will be quite runny.  If this is how you like your yogurt, then you are ready to flavor and refrigerate it.  If you like your yogurt a little thicker, or furthermore, if you want Greek yogurt, then you will need to drain off the excess whey.  I used a 2 quart mixing bowl, my old Tupperware strainer, and some coffee filters, but you can use whatever works for you.  Just pour your yogurt into the strainer.  I let mine drain for a couple of hours to reach my preferred consistency.  Your time might be different.  Be sure not to throw away your whey!  You can use that in all kinds of ways.  I usually add my leftover whey to bread dough, or soup broths.  

Once you've reached your desired consistency, you are ready to flavor your yogurt any way you wish.  This time, I flavored the whole batch of yogurt (minus my starter) with vanilla, then separated it into individual containers so everyone could have their own flavor.  Here is my daughter's strawberry, my older son's blueberry, my honey-cinnamon, and my younger son's orange.  My husband had orange, as well.  And as for our English Bulldog, Zeus, he takes his plain.  How will you flavor your homemade yogurt?

Karissa

Halloween Costume Update: Round Eared Cap

I've finally completed  my daughter's Colonial American girl costume.  Here is the completed outfit.  One piece was particularly difficult to make; the round eared cap.  It's not that the actual project was difficult, just figuring out how to make it.  Overall, I'm happy with the end result.  Although, there were some hiccups along the way.  It's not quite as historically accurate as I'd like it to be, but this was a faster, more cost effective version.

Historically, women and girls wore these caps from the 1740's through the 1820's.  They were made of white linen, and obviously hand sewn.  There are historical patterns available, but I didn't want to spend the money on a pattern.  I looked at some pictures of finished caps, and a wonderfully helpful website with general instructions for making historical caps.

Mine, on the other hand, is made from an old white cotton pillow case.  It is mostly hand sewn.  I did use the machine to sew the draw strings.  I also machine sewed the casing for the draw strings, however my stitches were too close to the raw edge and it pulled out.  So, I ended up hand sewing that part, too.

I didn't follow any particular pattern.  I just took a few measurements of my daughter's head and cut pieces out of paper to try on her.  If I make another one in the future, I will definitely make it bigger.  What I thought would be the right size, ended up a little too small for her.  It would probably fit a 4-5 year old much better (she's 9).  

Here is my paper pattern with a 12 inch ruler for scale.  From top to bottom the pieces are the crown, ruffle, then band.  I cut two pieces of the ruffle.  If your fabric has a finished edge (selvedge), use that edge for the front edge of your ruffle. That eliminates the need to hem it.  I did not make a pattern for my drawstrings.  I simply cut two strips of fabric about 1/2 inch wide and 8-10 inches long.

Fold your drawstring pieces in half, lengthwise.  Stitch them shut.  Because they are so narrow, it is very difficult to turn them inside out.  My quick fix solution was to trim the raw edges, and seal them with clear nail polish.  I'm not sure how effective a solution this is for the long term, but it will at least get us through Halloween.

On to the crown...Because I didn't allow for extra room for a hem, I machine sewed my hem much too close to the raw edge and ended up having to hand sew it after it unraveled on me.  You can choose to either add an extra 1/4 inch or so to the bottom of your crown and machine sew the hem (or casing), or leave it as is and hand stitch it.  

Next, cut a small slit at the center of the casing.  Use needle & thread to wrap the hole like a button hole.  Use a safety pin to feed the drawstrings through the casing, letting the extra length hang out of the center hole.  

For the top of the crown, hand sew a running stitch for your gather.  I cut a piece of thread the same length as the length of the band.  That made it easy to fit the two pieces together.  Evenly distribute the gather and pin the two pieces together.  Be sure to include the drawstrings.  Whipstitch the crown and the band together using very small, close stitches.  After you have attached the two pieces, remove your gather thread.

Now for the ruffle...As I stated before, if you have a nice finished edge that you can use for the front of your ruffle, do it!  Since I made my cap out of a pillowcase, I had no nice edge.  I did not want to hem the front of the ruffle, so I again used clear nail polish to seal my freshly cut edge.  Attach the two ruffle pieces, end to end, with a couple of small stitches.  Next, cut another length of thread the same length as your band and gather the back edge of your ruffle.  Again, pin the two pieces together and use a small, close whipstitch to attach the ruffle to the band, removing the gather thread when you are done.

 

There you have it, a genuine fake Colonial America era historical-ish round eared cap!  I hope your hands and eyes don't hurt from all those whipstitches as much as mine do.  More importantly, I hope this tutorial helps make your project a little easier.

Karissa

Mid-week Morsel: So Much To Do...

 

You know the old saying..."So much to do; so little time."  That pretty well sums up how I feel these days.  We are up to our eyeballs with school.  There are projects to complete, lessons to do, and tests to take.  Many days we've found ourselves doing school up until time to start dinner.  After dinner is the battle of the shower.  Then, once I get the kids in bed, it's my time.  

Normally, I work on setting up the next day's lessons, and writing my posts.  However, right now I'm making a Halloween costume.  My daughter has decided to be a Colonial American girl.  After many hours searching the internet for patterns or even images of historical colonial fashion, I'm now making my own pattern based off of a couple of pictures of good reproductions.  There are a few historical patterns out there, but they cost more than I am willing to pay.

It's coming along nicely (after a couple of tries).  I'll post about it more once I get it complete, although I keep forgetting to take pictures as I finish each stage.  I'll start you off with a picture of my inspiration.  This is the best photo I've found of the type of outfit my daughter had in mind.  What do you think?  What will your kids be for Halloween?  Are you making or buying costumes?

Karissa

Mid-week Morsel: Talk Like a Pirate Day, It Be Me Hearties!

Shiver me timbers! Tomorrow is talk like a pirate day.  It's a great day to act silly and have some fun.  It's also a great day to sneak in a little history and science...along with the fun.  I've found the motherload of pirate resources for your little lads and lasses.

Before you can be a pirate, you need to learn about pirates.  Older pirates will get a real feel for the life of a pirate by watching any of the pirate documentaries a available on YouTube.  After that, let them learn which flags various pirates flew and what those images meant.

Younger pirates will get a thrill out of learning to talk like a pirate, and generating their own pirate names.  Disney has an entire subsite dedicated to pirate crafts & activities for younger children.

To be a pirate, you need pirate gear.  Younger pirates will enjoy this adorable yet simple duct tape sword.  This homemade compass is a great science lesson on magnetism.  Every pirate needs a telescope to see far off treasure.  I've found one tutorial that looks more like a pirate spyglass, but does not have lenses, and one less traditional looking telescope that gives a great explanation of how the lenses work to magnify distant objects.  Finally, pirates must love the water, and your little pirate will absolutely love making his own ocean in a bottle.

So smartly get yerself ready to be a pirate, or the youngsters may send you to Davy Jones' Locker!

Karissa
(Sal "One-Legged" Curnow)

Grandparents Day is Tomorrow!

Grandma & Grandpa, Mamaw & Papaw, Nana & Pawpaw, Mimi & Pop Pop...no matter what your kids call them, grandparents are special.  Did you know that tomorrow, September 8th, is National Grandparents Day?  There's no need to panic, though, I have already done the searching for you and found some great last-minute ideas for showing your children's grandparents how special they are...even if you did forget about Grandparents Day.  I know that when it comes to last minute gifts, money can be an obstacle, so I've put together a list of DIY gifts you and your children can make together at home.

Before you break out the construction paper and glue, check out this list of activities from Huffington Post that show Grandma & Grandpa how much they mean to you.

About.com recently updated their annual list of handmade gifts for Grandparents Day including this adorable Goofy Grandkids photo book.

If you are looking for gifts the kids can make that their grandparents will actually like, then these 9 ideas from Mom.me are for you.  From pill boxes to ice cream, these moms know what grandparents want.

Sometimes, all grandparents need is a kind word to remind them that they are loved, and a picture is worth a thousand words.  The Babycenter blog lists 9 gift ideas, many of which include pictures of your little ones.

One thing that long distance grandparents miss more than anything else is hugging their grandkids.  Grandparents all around the world will love receiving this paper hug in the mail.

Sea Shell Picture Frame

As I mentioned in this week's Mid-week Morsel, Beach Fun, one of my family's favorite beach activities is shelling.  Any time we are on the beach at least one of us is bent over looking at shells.  In the last year, we have amassed quite a collection.  We also love watching the sunset.  I can't tell you how many pictures of sunsets we have saved on our computer and phones.  There is truly no better way to end the day than standing on the beach, watching a beautiful sunset with the ones you love.  This seashell picture frame DIY is a great way to preserve those treasured moments.

Start with any picture frame.  Repurpose an outdated one in your
 home, or pick up a cheap one from a yard sale.  The uglier the better.

If your frame is dark, like mine was, I recommend
 painting it a lighter color.  I found small can of peachy
 tan in my shed...perfect!

The picture turned out a little dark, but the next step
 is to coat the frame with glue (I used regular school
glue), and cover the frame with sand & a sprinkle of
glitter.  The glitter helps the sand sparkle like it does
in the sunshine.  I used sand from my yard, but you can
buy sand at craft stores or at home improvement stores.

Hot glue your shells around the frame.  I found it helpful
 to lay the shells around the frame to see how they would
fit and look before I started gluing.  Finally, add a picture
from your memorable event.  This sunset was on my
husband's birthday last year.

Decorating frames not only with shells, but any other object is a great way to enhance the memories you've captured on film...or in pixels.  It is also a great way to display collections.  Rocks, bottle caps, or any other small object can be used to decorate a frame.  What will you use?

Karissa

I Scream, You Scream...

...we all scream for ice cream!  Ice cream is so creamy, cold, and refreshing on a hot summer day.  Why shouldn't we celebrate it?  We should, of course!  And that is why tomorrow is National Ice Cream Day.  Of all the crazy things that have gotten their own day, this is one of my favorites. There's nothing better than a cold bowl or cone of sweet and satisfying ice cream...except a cold bowl or cone of sweet and satisfying homemade ice cream!  I know, I know, I don't have an ice cream machine either, but that shouldn't stop you.  I've been trying out methods for making ice cream without a machine, and frankly, it's really easy.  Even if you don't or can't eat traditional ice cream, there are plenty of other ice cream recipes out there. Scroll to the bottom of the post for some ideas.

First there is the bag method.  Use your favorite ice cream recipe to make your base.  Pour it into a quart sized zip-top baggie and seal it.  Some people recommend taping the bag shut to ensure there will be no leaks.  Place that bag in a gallon sized zip-top baggie along with plenty of ice cubes and salt.  The larger the salt chunks the better, but in a pinch table salt will do.  Seal this bag as well.  Now comes the work...ehh, I mean the fun part.  Squeeze, squish, roll, and toss your bag.  The salt makes the ice colder, the cold makes the cream freeze, and the movement prevents the ice crystals that are forming from becoming too large and ruining the creamy texture that is ice cream.  This part of the recipe is great to keep kids busy while they wait for the ice cream to be edible.

Next is the coffee can method.  It is very similar to the bag method.  Again, use your favorite ice cream recipe to make your base.  This time, pour it into an average sized, clean coffee can.  Seal the lid on the can, again using tape to prevent any leakage.  Now place the average sized coffee can inside an industrial sized coffee can along with your ice cubes and salt.  Like the bag method, you now need to shake, rattle, and roll your can.  You can roll it on the floor between two people (again, great for keeping kids busy), or I've even heard of gently rolling it back and forth under your feet while you work at a desk or sit on the couch.  The poster of that suggestion states that it is great for aching feet.

Finally, is the freezer method...the one I chose.  It seems to me that unless you use multiple baggies or cans, the first two methods limit the amount of ice cream you can make to what will fit in the bag or can.  With a family of five that includes two teenage boys, I need to cook in quantity.  With the freezer method, I can make as much ice cream as I wish.  Keep in mind, though, that larger batches will take longer to freeze.  I make a gallon at a time, and it isn't ready until the next day. Your time will vary, of course, based on the size of your batch, your freezer's temperature, and the starting temperature of your ice cream base.

Here's how it works.  Simply pour your ice cream base into any appropriately sized covered container.  I keep an empty one gallon plastic ice cream tub on hand just for this purpose.  Put the lid on the container and place it in your freezer. Periodically, pull out the ice cream and stir it up.  You can hand stir it, or use a hand mixer.  Just as with the other methods, periodically stirring the base prevents the ice crystals from growing too large, and makes your ice cream creamier. But, don't worry if you have frozen chunks because you waited too long to stir.  Simply put the ice cream in your blender and smooth it back out.  As I said before, smaller batches will freezes more quickly, and larger batches will take longer to freeze.  When I make a gallon, the ice cream is soupy for about 6-8 hours.  For me, it works best to make the base just before bedtime.  That way, the ice cream is just getting to it's freezing stage when I get up in the morning and can stir it through out the morning.  If you make smaller batches, or divide your gallon into smaller containers, you can make it in the morning and stir it through out the afternoon.

Here is my basic vanilla ice cream base.  You can use this as a starting point to create whatever flavor you can imagine. Beat 4 eggs.  Add in 2 cups of sugar, and beat until thick and frothy.  Mix in 2 cups of evaporated milk, one can (14 oz) of sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons of vanilla, and a pinch of salt.  Once well mixed, pour into a one gallon container (or divide evenly between smaller containers totaling one gallon).  Fill the container(s) the rest of the way with milk (I use 2%, but you can use whole).  Mix again and freeze.  Don't have evaporated milk or sweetened condensed milk?  You can make your own.  That makes this ice cream even more affordable!

What if you can't or don't eat ice cream?  Don't worry, there are plenty of recipes out there for non-dairy, vegan, and sugar free ice cream.  So whatever the reason, you don't eat traditional ice cream, you can still enjoy great ice cream flavor. Healthy Living How To posted a very tempting dairy-free, vegan blender ice cream recipe that uses almond milk...and Stevia, so it's sugar-free as well.  It looks delicious!  Try serving Rick Bayless' dairy-free avocado ice cream to your adult guests.  It has a little secret ingredient!  Perhaps this dairy-free, vegan creamy chocolate gelato from Healthy Living is more your style. Last, but certainly not least, is one of my favorites.  One ingredient, dairy-free, sugar-free, vegan ice cream.  The Kitchn explains how to make it, but it doesn't have to be one ingredient.  You can add anything you want to it!

You see, no matter your diet or lifestyle, we can all scream for ice cream...homemade ice cream, that is!  So, whip up a batch tonight and have a happy National Ice Cream Day tomorrow!

Karissa

Mid-week Morsel: Using Paste Paper for Crafts

I love paper crafts.  Maybe it's the kid in me, but I have so much fun cutting, folding, gluing, and taping paper to create things.  It might also have something to do with my lack of ability when it comes to painting & drawing, but that's another story.  I didn't fully realize my love for paper crafts until I started making scrapbook baby books about 10 years ago.  It was great! I could create these unique works of art without having to draw or paint anything.  There were so many decorative papers to choose from.  Although, sometimes, even after spending an hour or more searching through all the different papers at the scrapbook supply store, I still couldn't find just the right style of paper to suit the page or craft I had in mind.  Now that I've discovered paste paper that will never be a problem again.  I'll just make the paper I want!

I've taken the papers I made last week and used them to create different types of paper crafts.  There are so many creative ways to use decorative papers.  These are just a few ideas to help spark your creativity.

Origami  Origami can be fun, relaxing, and even educational.  The fact that you can create wonderful creatures and objects with just a few simple folds amazes children.  What they don't know is that while they are busy folding and creasing, they are practicing laws and theories of geometry as well.  Maria Rainer from OnlineDegrees.org guest posted an article on Math Insider detailing some ways origami improves math skills.  I personally have used two fun origami math books from Scholastic's Teacher Express.  In fact, this whale comes from their 2nd-3rd grade book.  We also have the 4th-6th grade book.  They are great for summer learning, but are not free.  (Hint:  watch for them to go on sale during one of Scholastic's Dollar Deals sales.  That's what I did.)

Handmade Cards  In today's world of e-cards and Facebook posts, handwritten notes and cards are becoming more and more scarce...and more and more treasured by those who actually receive them.  Whether you want to send the cards yourself, or give them as a gift to someone you know who still takes the time to send cards, these handmade note cards are sure to be appreciated.  Simply make your paste paper on cardstock, then cut the sheet into cards.  Depending on the size of cards desired you should be able to cut 2-4 cards from each 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of cardstock.  I used rub on transfers to add the words and decoration to my cards, but you can also run the cards through your printer, or hand write a message inside.  Finish them off with either store bought envelopes, or make your own.

 

 

Personalized Notebooks  Even better than handmade notecards, is personalized notebooks.  Both children and adults who enjoy doodling, jotting down ideas, or journaling will absolutely love receiving a handmade personalized notebook.  They are very simple.  In a word processor, set your page to print two pages on one sheet of paper.  This can be done using either columns or in the page set up menu.  Use the underscore key to create blank lines on the page (unless you want a totally blank book for doodling.)  If you wish, add any sort of embellishment.  As you can see, I added a heart to each page.  Print as many pages as you wish.  Be sure to print on both sides of the paper.  I printed 5 sheets, which gives me 20 pages in the notebook.  Finally, crease all of your pages & cover down the middle and staple them together.  If you don't have a large enough stapler to reach the center of your notebook, you can simply sew a straight stitch down the center of your notebook.  If you have your children write over the summer, or homeschool, these notebooks are great for daily writing prompts.  You can even leave some blank space at the top of each page so that children can include a picture with their writing.

You may find that you have scraps of paper left over from your crafts.  Don't throw them away!  You can use them to create something new and wonderful as well.  Use larger pieces to create bookmarks.  Save all of your small pieces and make a mosaic picture from them.  The possibilities are endless when it comes to what you can make from your paste paper.  What will you make?

Karissa

Paste Paper Craft DIY

How many times have you wanted to do a paper craft, but couldn't find just the right paper?  Whether you scrapbook, make personalized cards, or do any other type of paper craft, finding just the right paper pattern can make or break the project.  I've discovered a simple and fun way to make your own patterned paper.  It's called paste paper.  It's a very simple concept.  Use colored paste to create patterns, designs, and pictures on paper.  Don't worry, you don't have to be Michelangelo to create really great paste paper.  I will be the first to tell you that when it comes to painting pictures, I have no artistic ability.  I do consider myself to be very creative, though.  Here's how to do it:

1.  Make your paste.  There are many different recipes online for making your own paste.  We tried a couple different ones. The one that worked best for us combined 3/4 cup of regular white flour with 2 cups cold water.  Stir them together in either a stainless steel pan or glass bowl.  Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then gradually bring it to a boil until the mixture thickens to about the consistency of pudding.  Note that if you plan to use powder paints, you should leave the mixture just a little thinner.  Pour the paste into a jar, and put it in the refrigerator to cool.

2.  Gather your tools.  Think outside the box.  Almost anything can be a tool for creating your design.  The kitchen is a great place to start your search.  We included a silicone basting brush, a lemon zester, a shot glass, a rubber grip jar opener, and forks in our tools.  Also consider objects like combs, sponges, textured fabrics like lace & netting, rubber stamps, and scrapbooking supplies.

3.  Get creative!  As one bookbinder stated, "Paste paper is essentially glorified finger painting."  Color your paste.  We put spoonfuls of paste in an egg carton, then added acrylic paint to it.  Now cover your paper with one or more colors. Experiment with different ways to apply the paste to the paper.  Using a paintbrush, sponge, and a spoon will all give you different looks.  Choose different tools to drag through the paste and reveal the white paper beneath.  You can also paint your paper with plain paint before adding your paste to reveal a color other than white.  Check out the sheet I made that reads, "Sadie's Book".  I painted the paper pink, added glitter to the wet paint & coated that with uncolored paste to seal in the glitter, then let it dry completely.  Next I used some scrapbooking letter stickers I had to add the title.  I covered the whole paper with black paste, and quickly removed the stickers to reveal sparkly pink letters.  Next, I dragged a scrapbooking decorative edge across the paper to create stripes.  Finally, I used the cap to a Sharpie to make circles on the stripes.

As I said before, I am in no way an artist.  However, with a little practice, or if you do have artistic ability, your paste papers can be absolutely stunning.  Here are a few pictures of paste papers created by true artists.  Click on any of the pictures to be taken to that artist's website.  

      

If your family decides to create your own paste papers, please post a picture on either my Facebook or Google+ page.  I'd love to see them!  And save your paper after you're done.  Next week's Mid-week Morsel has some great ideas for using your paste paper in craft projects!

Karissa

Mid-week Morsel: 4th of July Crafts

Tomorrow is the 237th anniversary of our independence.  What a great reason to celebrate!  And children love to celebrate.  Waiting until dusk for the fireworks to start is so hard when you love to celebrate.  I've found a couple of websites that love to celebrate the 4th of July, too.  All Kids Network shares over 20 crafts kids can do to celebrate the 4th.  If you want more than crafts to help you celebrate, Enchanted Learning offers activity books, worksheets, and coloring pages in addition to crafts.  There's a whole lot of daylight between now and fireworks time, so break out your crafts supplies, warm up your printer, and get the party started.

Karissa

My New Favorite Summer Recipe

I hope you were able to find some new and refreshing recipes from this week's Mid-week Morsel.  I have found my own new favorite summer recipe.  I've been thinking for a couple of weeks about what recipe I'd use.  Maybe I should write about our Greek salad, or my homemade cole slaw.  I just couldn't decide.  Fortunately, I didn't have to. My daughter picked out some fresh peaches at the store last week, and wanted to make something with them.  She decided to make peaches and cream.  Too bad I didn't have any heavy cream. We looked around for some other peach recipes...peach cobbler, peach melba...nothing seemed appealing.  Then it hit me.  My family loves my homemade banana pudding.  Why not make peach pudding?  So we did.  I used the same pudding recipe from my banana pudding, substituting the peaches for the bananas.  It's delicious!  Creamy, refreshing, and oh so peachy!  Here's my new favorite peaches and cream pudding recipe.

Peaches and Cream Pudding

1 C. sugar
2/3 C. flour
4 C. milk
6 egg yolks
3 tsp. vanilla extract
2 peaches
cinnamon

Halve and thinly slice the peaches. Set aside. Separate and beat the eggs in a bowl. Set aside. Combine flour and sugar in a medium saucepan.  Add milk and stir.  Add a small amount of the milk mixture to the eggs and stir together.  Then, add all of the egg mixture to the saucepan. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and constantly stir...and stir...and stir.  You might want to have your phone, or a book with you.  You're going to be stirring for a while, but don't worry, it's worth it.  After around 20 minutes the mixture will begin to thicken.  Remove the pudding from the heat when it clings to the back of a spoon.  Add the vanilla extract to the pudding after it is done cooking.  Layer the peaches in a serving bowl or individual dessert cups with sprinkles of cinnamon. Pour the warm pudding over the peach slices and refrigerate.  Serve when cold. Makes 6-8 servings.

I hope you enjoy our peaches and cream pudding.  I'm sure it would be delicious with other fruit as well.  Perhaps I'll make it using blueberries or strawberries.  Yum!  Please feel free to share your new favorite summer recipe in the comments.

Karissa

Mid-week Morsel: Summer Recipes

I love summertime!  The long days.  The sense of freedom that comes with no school, no homework, and no after-school activities. Okay, not as many after-school activities.  Unfortunately, it also comes with sweltering heat that makes you want to live off of sweet tea and ice cream.  For this week's Mid-week Morsel I've gathered up a trio of websites to help you find your new favorite summer recipe.  Brown-eyed Baker lists 185 summer recipes sorted by course.  Simply Recipes has a neatly alphabetized page of nearly 100 summer recipes.  Finally, if you have a favorite summer ingredient, Taste of Home's Summer Recipes page categorizes it's summer recipes by main ingredient.  These inviting recipes are sure to help freshen up your summer menu.

Karissa

School's Out...almost

May is here.  The kids are in the final stretch of the school year.  It's hard to believe another year of school is almost over.  This school year has been quite an adventure; one I'm sure the kids will never forget.  We moved to Florida just about a week before the school year started, so this has been a school year full of firsts.  Regardless of whether or not your school year has been quite as unique as ours, you & your children will want to remember this year and all the great memories it holds.  I've scoured the internet and found several free printable memory books to help put all those memories in one place.  Enchanted Learning has a memory book children can print and color.  Just look on the right side of the page, where non-members can print the individual pages of the book.  Elise Stoddard posted a fill-in-the-section memory book on Teachers Pay Teachers which is suitable for middle to upper elementary students.  Site registration is required to download the book, however both the registration and the download are free.  Fellow blogger and first grade teacher Cara Carroll created a memory book suitable for younger students.  Either visit her Teachers Pay Teachers store or click on the image to download it for free.  Teacher turned assistant principal, Alicia Lochridge made an 18 page, color memory book available for free at her Teachers Pay Teachers store.  It is suitable for younger & older students.  Third grade teacher, Ashleigh put together a 16 page, color memory book.  Visit her blog to download it for free.  It is suitable for older or younger students, however it may not appeal to older boys as much.  

With all of the parties and gifts, the end of the school year can get costly.   Here are some do-it-yourself, inexpensive gifts to make for your children's teachers.  First and foremost, iVillage has put together a list of do's and don'ts.  This is particularly helpful if you are new to giving gifts to teachers.  The Happy Home Fairy put together an extensive list of ideas.  So long, in fact, that she made it a two-part series.  Check out part 1 and part 2 to see them all.  Mique at Thirty Handmade Days has a few cute ideas as well.  Finally, the crew at Tip Junkie has put together a list of 24 ideas to show teacher appreciation.

Now that the teachers are taken care of, what do you send with your child to give to his/her classmates?  Don't worry, I found some affordable handmade ideas for that, as well.  Maura & Sheila, The Two Crafting Sisters, created adorable candy bags to give away.  Erin from Making Memories shared a dollar store goodie bag idea she made last year.  Rebecca, The Crafted Sparrow, has a "kool" gift idea for her son's classmates.  Finally, 24/7 Moms has found a way to help your children's classmates "have a ball".

Now that you have everyone at school taken care of, how can you make the last day of school special for your own child?  I found some very creative ways to show your child how proud you are of his/her accomplishments.  First, help build the excitement with this countdown to summer paper chain from Laurie over at Gallamore West.  When the day finally arrives, make them feel special throughout the whole day with this keepsake t-shirt idea from Awesome Craft Pins.  (S)he can even feel special at lunch with this lunch bag idea from Everything Pink.  However, after school is when the real celebrating begins.  Dixie Delights posted about how she celebrated her son's last day of school last year.  It was quite the extravaganza!  I also found this really fun finish line idea from Canadian blogger Gina Bell at East Coast Mommy.  Top it all off with this hand made keepsake meant to remind your child of all of his/her great qualities.  Confessions of a Teaching Junkie's Mrs. Wilson made them for her entire class, however I think they are great gifts for children at home as well.

Wow.  This is a much bigger post than I expected it to be when I came up with the idea.  Hopefully, there are plenty of ideas to help you celebrate the end of the school year with your children.

Karissa

Mid-week Morsel: Frosty Joe Recipe

As warmer weather creeps in, I can't help but think about warm weather treats. Right now, one of my favorites is the Frosty Joe.  It is a recipe I came up with that's cold,  refreshing, and satisfies your coffee craving all at the same time,  Best of all, it's super simple!  Make a tray of coffee ice cubes.  (These are a staple in my house when it's hot outside.)  TIP:  add ground cinnamon to your coffee grounds for fabulous cinnamon flavored coffee.  Place 6-12 of your frozen coffee cubes in the blender, depending on how many servings you are making.  Blend the cubes until they are ice shavings.  Add 2-3 scoops of ice cream and sugar to taste.  I used one spoonful of sugar (my coffee cubes were very strong.)  Blend again until a Frosty-like consistency is reached.  Pour into a frosty mug, and top with a dollop of whipped cream & some chocolate shavings.  I'd tell you to serve it immediately because they melt fast, but you're probably eating it already anyway.  Enjoy!

Karissa