Two for One!

When life gives you lemons...  clean your microwave and garbage disposal!!  

I had seen several people post this suggestion on Pinterest and knew I would have to try it.  To tell the truth, I was skeptical as I have always dreaded cleaning the microwave.  It's always a caked on, tough to remove mess.  Not anymore.  I was completely amazed at how easy this was!  If you have a dirty microwave you really must try this!!  

All I did was juiced 2 lemons and cut up the remains and added to approximately 1 cup of water.  Heat in the microwave on high for 5 - 10 minutes (it only took 5 minutes for me).  Just enough to get the water with lemon to steam the inside of the microwave.

Next, just use a damp sponge and wipe out the mess.  It's that easy!!  No scrubbing needed.  It was a breeze!!  Honestly, I was blown away by how well this worked.

Last but not least, don't just toss your lemon remains in the trash, throw your lemon water and rinds down your garbage disposal to remove lingering odors.  I have to tell you, my hands and my kitchen smelled wonderfully clean and lemony!  :)

 Two jobs done for the price of two lemons.  Not bad!!

Banana Muffins

I had several overripe bananas and promised myself that instead of just pitching them I would make something with them.  I found this Banana Muffin recipe on Pinterest and had to give it a try!

I found the recipe here.  

Here's what you'll need:  

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 ripe bananas, peeled and coarsely mashed

Directions:
Line 18 muffin cups with paper liners. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl to blend. Beat the sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large bowl to blend. Stir in the banana. Add the dry ingredients and stir just until blended.

Divide the batter among the prepared muffin cups. Bake the muffins on the middle rack until the tops are golden brown and a tester inserted into the center comes out with no crumbs attached, about 25 minutes. Transfer the muffins to a rack and cool slightly.

Notes:  

~ I didn't have vegetable oil and used canola oil instead.  I suppose you can even substitute applesauce if you wish to be more health conscious.  

~ I also added approximately 2 - 2.5 tsp of cinnamon.  

~ I was able to get 24 muffins, instead of the 18 stated in the recipe, and could have probably had 2 more if I had another muffin pan.  I'm not sure why this happened unless the size of my 4 bananas was larger than what was used in the original recipe resulting making more batter.  Whatever the reason, I'm not complaining!  :)

~ After I filled one muffin pan I added mini chocolate chips to the remaining batter.  Mmmm...

These muffins are sooo good!  I think this recipe is a keeper!!

ENJOY!!

Paper-Napkin Decoupage Eggs

The idea started with Martha Stewart, I just took it a few steps further. 

 Check out Martha Stewart's complete directions here.  

The basic necessities are eggs, paper napkins (with a design of your choosing) and Mod Podge.  To take the eggs to the next level I included egg dye and glitter paint pens.

The first step is to blow out your eggs.

It would be a good idea to have extra eggs as you will likely have a few casualties.

The eggs colored and ready to decorate

Cut out the pieces of the napkin that you wish to use on your eggs.

You will need to have your eggs dyed ahead of time so they are 

perfectly dry before adhering the napkins pieces.

Use Mod Podge to adhere napkin pieces to your colored eggs.

Next you will use glitter paint pens to embellish your eggs.

The final step is to add a colorful ribbon at the top to hang your decorated eggs.

Happy Easter!!

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Bottomless Vanilla Extract

This Christmas several friends and family were recipients of homemade vanilla extract.  The recipe is simple... Vodka and split vanilla beans and a couple of months (for it to become vanilla-y).  What is great about this is that you may never have to buy vanilla extract again.  When the bottle starts to get low just add more vodka.  When it starts to lose the essence of vanilla just remove the old beans and add new split vanilla beans.  Simple!  

I found these great bottles at Specialty Bottle and the labels at myownlabels. 

I will be making more of these very soon!!

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!!

Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie

Crunchy Caramel Apple Pie

Filling

6 C - Apples, peeled and thinly sliced

1/2 C - Sugar

3 Tbls - Flour

1 tsp - Cinnamon

1/8 tsp - Salt

Crumb Topping

1 C - Brown Sugar

1/2 C - Flour

1/2 C - Quick Cooking Oats

1/2 C - Butter

Finishing Touch

1/2 C - Pecans, chopped

1/4 C - Caramel Topping

Plus Pastry for one pie

Prepare pastry for pie.  I use a Pillsbury Pie Crust, but if you prefer you can make your own pastry.  Line a 9" pie plate with pastry.  Trim and crimp edges as desired.

Prepare the crumb topping.  Stir together sugar, flour and oats.  Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt.  Add apple slices and gently toss to coat.  Transfer apple mixture to pastry lined pie plate.

Sprinkle crumb topping over apple mixture.  

To prevent over-browning, cover edge of pie with foil.  Bake 25 minutes at 375.   Remove foil and bake an additional 25 - 30 minutes or until top is golden.  Remove from oven.  Sprinkle with pecans and drizzle with caramel topping.

Cool on wire rack.

Enjoy! 

This recipe is a family favorite.  I hope it becomes one of your favorites as well!!

Sweet and Salty Halloween Treats

I love sweet... and I love salty... Put them together and I'm a happy girl!!

A picture says a thousand words and I don't think you need that many to see that this is an easy snack to put together!  There are many different variations all over pinterest, but I found my inspiration here.

Ingredients:

Mini Pretzels (I used the snaps, shaped like squares)

Hershey Kisses Hugs (I used kisses and hugs)

Candy Corn

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil. Place pretzels on cookie sheet, not touching. Unwrap Hershey's Kisses (the most time consuming step of the whole process) and place on top of pretzels. Place filled cookie sheet in oven. Bake for 3-5 minutes but no longer. You will know they are ready when the Hershey Kisses start to get shiny. Take out of oven and gently place candy corn on top of Hershey Kisses, pushing down gently. Cool and then transfer to serving platter or wrap up as gifts. Your fridge will come in handy to speed the cooling process.

Enjoy!!

Scarecrow Treats

The first Autumn Goodies of the year!  

Pinterest if full of wonderful looking recipes for Autumn, my favorite time of year!  It's time to start trying a few of them.  I found this recipe here and knew that this was one that I was going to have to make!  This is what you'll need to do:

Ingredients:

Crust

1/2 C butter softened

1 pkg yellow cake mix (pudding in the mix)

1 egg

3 C mini marshmallows

Topping

1/2 C light corn syrup

1/4 C sugar

1/4 C firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 C creamy peanut butter

2 tsp vanilla

2 C crisp rice cereal

2 C salted peanuts

1 C candy corn

Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine butter and cake mix in large bowl. Beat on low speed until well mixed. Add egg; continue beating until well mixed.

Press onto bottom of ungreased 15x10x1-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until set and edges are lightly browned. Remove from oven. 

Immediately sprinkle marshmallows over hot, partially baked crust. Return to oven; continue baking for 1 to 2 minutes or until marshmallows puff.

Meanwhile, combine corn syrup, sugar and brown sugar in large saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until mixture comes to a boil (2 to 4 minutes). Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth. Stir in cereal, peanuts and candy corn. Immediately spoon over marshmallows; spread to cover. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

Enjoy!!

Mmmm... what's next!!