Bath Toys

Here is a cute, affordable way to make fun bath toys for your kiddos. I found this at http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/. She has tons of cute ideas!!

I bought some craft foam from Walmart-- a whole big package for $5. I found some free printable stencils online and also used some that I had in my scrapbooking stuff. Trace 'em, cut 'em, and viola so easy!!

When the foam gets wet it sticks to the side of the tub or the tile. But not too sticky that little fingers can't get them off. Both my kids love them. I usually leave them on the sides when they get out of the tub, when you go in later--they are dry, but still stuck.

I still have tons of foam left to make more-- for other kiddos in my life (Emmitt's birthday)!

More peppers-with a little sweetness

Raspberry Jalepeno Jam

This is by far, one of my most favorite treats! This jam is excellent on crackers with cream cheese. I could sit and eat a whole jar, if I don't watch myself.

Anyway, here is the recipe:

5 cups of fresh raspberries, washed

1/2 green bell pepper, washed, seeded, and chopped

3 jalapeno peppers, washed, seeded, and chopped

5 cups sugar

1/2 cup cider vinegar

1 box pectin

yields: 7 half pints

If you want more spice, then don't seed one or all of the jalapenos.

Measure out raspberries in a bowl. Mush them so they get quite juicy but there are still chunks of raspberries remaining. Use your hands.

We used gloves so the berries didn't stain our hands. I did not buy fresh raspberries. You can find frozen raspberries in the freezer section of the store. Make sure they do not have syrup in them though. Walmart has a great value brand that has 2.5 cups in each one, so it worked perfect to buy 2 bags per batch. We also put the peppers in the blender with the cider vinegar to chop them up.

Add the chopped bell pepper, jalapenos, and vinegar to the berries and mix.


I know this looks disgusting, that why I took the picture.....

In a separate bowl, mix 1 box of pectin with 1/4 cup of the sugar. Measure out remaining sugar into another bowl.

Place berry-pepper mixture in a pot and bring to a full boil over high heat, stirring so the mixture does not burn. Once at a boil, stir in the pectin-sugar mixture and bring back to a boil. Add the remaining sugar to the pot and stir. Bring to a vigorous boil again, while stirring continuously. Boil hard, continuing to stir for 1 minute (1 minute only).


Remove from heat, skim off the scum, stir and ladle hot jam into sterilized jars, securing lids tightly. Process in water bath canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude (I have to do 20) Once done, remove jars and allow to cool.


Here is Jared, enjoying some raspberry-jalapeno scum.


Look how pretty!! I just LOVE putting things into jars!!!

Feeling hot Hot HOT!!!

Jalapeno Jelly

Jalapeno's were on sale at Buy Low Market for 25 cents a pound! You can't beat that! So I went down and bought a couple pounds for my latest projects.

The first one is jalapeno jelly. I know it sounds weird, but it is delicioso.

Here is the recipe:

12 oz of jalapeno peppers (about 12 medium)

2 cups cider vinegar, divided

6 cups sugar

2 (3 oz each) pouches of liquid pectin

green food coloring (optional)

yield: 5 half pints (I got 7 with each batch)

This recipe is from the Ball Blue Book.

Cut stems off and seed the peppers.

When you cut up the peppers it is best to use gloves are you are bound to have a burning hot casualty.

Puree the peppers in a food processer (blender) with 1 cup cider vinegar until smooth. Do not strain.


Combine puree with remaining 1 cup cider vinegar and sugar. Bring to a boil over high heat. Boil 10 minutes.


Okay, this is tricky.....this stuff foams like a mother, so use a very large pot, and beware of the nose hair burning fumes. Do not hover over the pot and attempt to breath, its not good. I know from experience.

Add the liquid fruit pectin, immediately squeezing entire contents from pouches. Continue to boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly.


Remove from heat. Add food coloring and skim foam if necessary.

I liked adding the food coloring. I did 6 drops in the pot. It just made it a prettier green.

Ladle hot jelly into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Apply lids and bands.

Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, remember to adjust for altitude. (I do 20 minutes) Remove jars and cool.

The final product is 7 of these little beauties! We did two batches, and it took us about 1 1/2 hours.

This jelly is good on bread or toast. It is really good on crackers. I LOVE it with cream cheese and wheat thins.

When I was at the AF Walmart last night, jalapenos were on sale for 88 cents a pound. That's pretty dang good!

Soon.....

My brain is done taking a vacation from the holidays......

I promise I have some stuff in the works and lots of ideas bouncing around in my head.

Quick Grape Jelly

Grape Jelly

This recipe is so easy its sad. I can usually do two batches in about an hour, give or take. It is from my bible--The Ball Blue Book. I never thought that I would love a canning/preserving book so much. It is very well used at my house.

Anyway,

Here is the recipe:

yields 6 half-pint jars

3 cups bottles grape juice, unsweetened

1 pkg. powdered pectin

4 1/2 cups sugar

1 stereo playing your favorite tunes

1 Diet Coke

I like to use Welch's grape juice. But make sure it is 100% juice.


Makes it much easier to pre-measure your sugar--so you are not spilling all over, while trying to quickly measure it and dump into the pan. Or maybe you are not a klutz like me!

I am not smart enough to be picky on pectin--this is what I used.

Combine grape juice and powdered pectin in a large saucepot. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add sugar, stirring until dissolved. Return to a boil. Boil hard for 1 minute*, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary. Ladle hot jelly into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Adjust two-piece caps. Process 10 minutes** in a boiling-water canner.

* Really one 1 minute--no less, no more. Set your timer. This is important for set-up of your jelly.

**You have to adjust for your elevation. 10 minutes is for sea-level. I have to do 20 minutes. Refer to an altitude chart for proper processing times for your altitude.

Here is mine processing.......

Then when its done, pull the jars out--they are very hot--and set them on a towel to cool. Sit back, enjoy your Diet Coke and listen to the absolutely wonderful sound of the popping of the lids sealing.

I seriously love that popping sound--it makes me so happy for some reason. It is the sound of success!!!

My grape jelly!!!

Sunsets

I have been L.O.V.I.N.G. the sunsets lately. The other night I glanced out the kitchen window and saw this:

I just had to step out and take some pictures.

Sunsets are hard for me to capture. I am pretty happy with these!

Monogrammed Plates

Here is one of my projects. I found it here while I was blog hopping. I thought that it was a cute idea and wanted to give it a try. Click the link and it will give you a tutorial.

It was a fairly inexpensive project. I found the glass plates at Target for $2 each. My sister has since found me some plates at DI for .50. They are a little smaller, but in great condition.

I found my fabric and mod podge at Walmart. I bought 1 yard of fabric, which should do about 6 to 8 plates. I don't know yet. The fabric was $1.44.


The tutuorial on the link shows how easy it is.

The hardest thing for me was picking out the letter font. I did not freehand mine, I printed it off the computer, cut it out, then used that for a stencil on my scrapbook paper.

I also made another one, but I outlined the outside edge of my paper with a black sharpie--I thought that it made it look better--made the letter pop out more rather than blend.

Here is my finished project:

Let me know if you decide to make this, and what you think.

These are going to be used to deliver some Christmas cheer to my friends.

Bouncing

I promise that I have tons of ideas bouncing around in my head! It's actually quite scary. I have been rounding up several things that I need for several different projects.

If all goes well, I will be trying one tonight......