Here's her big fan...at home. He wouldn't stand still for a picture while we visited her school.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Here's her big fan...at home. He wouldn't stand still for a picture while we visited her school.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Chocolatey Christmas Goodness
- Use a candy thermometer on your saucepan and heat the butter, evaporated milk and sugar to EXACTLY 234 degrees.
- Stir constantly, it scorches easily.
- Use real vanilla, no imitation.
- I also use 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips, because I keep these on hand and they melt easily.
- I put the fudge in a glass pan that is 8 1/2 by 11.
My biggest tip is to make the fudge and deliver it EARLY in December. I usually make it the weekend after Thanksgiving. I think that giving it early means your friends will be able to enjoy it before the onslaught of Christmas parties and excesses. Also, fudge lasts a long time and freezes well.
I cut the fudge into 1 inch cubes and wrap in wax paper using Scotch tape to seal it. I also use cut wax paper between the layers of pieces (see pic below). Then I deliver it in a cute tin from the Dollar Store. Make sure to save a few pieces for your house too!
Here is the recipe (copied right from the jar):
Heat in a saucepan to 234 degrees, stirring constantly:
3/4 c. butter
3 cups sugar
5 oz. evaporated milk
Remove from heat and add:
2 cups of chocolate chips
1 jar of marshmallow creme
Stir well and finish with:
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup of chopped nuts, if desired
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Planting Pansies
Audrey wants to start a filing system of all the plants we've ever brought home since she was born.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
And the winner is...
This pumpkin man can do it all! Read a book, walk his dog, and hold his stars! I'll confess, I might have suggested the reading theme. But the dog part, that's all her!
She was a little nervous about submitting her pumpkin to be judged. As we were making him, she asked, "Do the judges only look at the pumpkin or do they count behavior when they pick the winners?" I am not certain whether the behavior criteria would help or hurt her, but she seemed to think it would help.
After three days of nervous waiting, she was announced as the winner at her Halloween party. Her judging group included the three-year old class, four-year old class and Kindergarten. She really put those preschoolers in their place!
What's in the bag? Candy and a $10 gift card to Target! We headed to Target on the Sunday after Halloween. Oh my! It took longer to spend the card than to make the pumpkin!
Here are her carefully shopped for treasures...
A ghost pillow (half-price after Halloween!), a stuffed dalmatian and a Hello Kitty puzzle. Definitely worth it.