woodland animals baby shower

My daughter was invited by a friend to help prep for a baby shower and my daughter had a blast helping.  You can see why!  I asked for some pictures because I knew something fantastic was happening and I knew I should file away these ideas.  I love the woodland creatures theme.  My daughter's favorite part was helping with the hedgehog dip.  Super cute!  One day...

pumpkin chocolate chip blondie bars

Halloween was so fun!!  I love the brilliant fall colors, the boo-ing, the treat deliveries, the pumpkins (oh how I love the pumpkins in all their varieties!), the lit candles in sweet and spicy fragrances, jack-o-lanterns, costumes, downtown trick-or-treating, trunk-or-treating, the primary Halloween party and neighborhood trick-or-treating.  Endless fun.
Our friends Stephanie and Brent delivered these delicious goodies.  The pumpkin bars were so moist and delicious I asked for the recipe.  This recipe will replace the one I already had. :)

pumpkin chocolate chip blondie bars (Stephanie)

6 tablespoons butter, softened

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1/2 cup pumpkin

3/4 cup-1 cup all purpose flour (I usually do about 3/4 cup + 2 tbs)

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Set oven to 350, spray 8x8 square dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together. Stir in egg, vanilla and pumpkin. Pour in all dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread dough evenly into prepared baking dish. (I usually sprinkle the top with chocolate chips too). Bake 15-20 minutes (check with toothpick). 

stormtrooper party favor

This is the stormtrooper party favor minus the blue mylar star balloon that will be attached.  What's the party?  We're going to watch Star Wars Episode 7 outside.  On a big screen.  Probably not under the stars because of the "storm" that we're having but we'll be outside nonetheless.  Hopefully we'll get a little rain, thunder and lightening to add to the affect.

stormtrooper cupcakes

My birthday kid's treats were out of this world.  Every time I turned around we had a need for more treats.  Classroom treats, birthday day treats, birthday party treats, etc.  The stormtropper cupcakes were so fun and I am grateful for the pics online because I'd have never thought to make them and they were so easy thanks to these pens at Amazon.  The cupcakes are for the birthday party.
The dirt which was requested for the actual birthday day and I made layered mint brownies for classroom treats.

stormtrooper cupcakes
Make some white cupcakes according to package directions.  Prepare stormtropper marshmallows using Bakerpan food coloring markers from Amazon.com.  Ice the cupcakes and put a marshmallow on each one.

For party favors I am going to put a cupcake in a cellophane bag and pour some cute outer space sugar candies I found at the store into the bag so they settle at the bottom.  I'll attach a star shaped mylar balloon to the cellophane bag and tie it with a cute blue and white baker's twine I found at Michael's.  Easy, easy, easy!!

yummy 3-ingredient potatoes

I actually don't know what these potatoes are called but I watched my friend Shonda make them while I was over picking up my kids from art class.  It looked like such a simple dish to make and I knew that once her potatoes went into the oven the entire house would smell delicious.  I wanted that too.  I had my oldest make them and they were a huge hit!!  I heard ooohs and aaaaahs. And the house smelled sooooo good.

yummy 3-ingredient potatoes (my friend Shonda)
red potatoes
canola oil
packet of onion soup/dip mix (we used Trader Joe's)

I gave my daughter a 9x13 and asked her to pour a little bit of oil in the pan which she did with gusto.  She may have put a little more oil than I would have but the taters turned out crispy which was perfect.  I'd say she put in 1/3 cup of oil.  She then cut up a bunch of red potatoes, enough to fill the bottom of the pan- maybe 8 potatoes.  Then she sprinkled the onion mix on top and combined everything.  We put the pan in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour and a half due to my errand running longer than anticipated.  That's okay because they were PERFECT!

vanilla crepes with fresh blackberries

Last night my husband took our daughter on a walk in the neighborhood and they collected a bucket of fresh blackberries.  My kids were astonished when he came home pulled out his own cookbook full of recipes he's collected and started making crepes.  They filled the crepes with fresh blackberries and sweetened condensed milk then drizzled a little more on top.  On some, we even sprinkled a little cinnamon on top.  A wonderful dessert.

vanilla crepes with fresh blackberries (my husband)
1 1/2 cups milk
3 egg yolks
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons melted butter

fresh blackberries
sweetened condensed milk
sprinkling of ground cinnamon

In a blender, mix together the milk, egg yolks, and vanilla.  Add the flour, sugar, salt and melted butter.
Heat a crepe pan over medium heat until hot.  Coat with vegetable oil or cooking spray.  Pour about 1/4 cup of batter into the pan and tip to spread the batter to the edges.  When bubbles form on top and the edges are dry, flip over and cook until lightly browned on the other side and edges are golden.  Repeat with remaining batter.
Fill crepes with blackberries, sweetened condensed milk and a sprinkling of cinnamon.

slow cooker chicken tinga tacos

Chicken Tinga Tacos.  They just sound delicious, don't they?  We LOVED them.  Three musts that make these better than other tacos:  the feta cheese sauce, the diced red onion and Tapatio sauce dashed over the top. 

slow cooker chicken tinga tacos (i heart nap time) 
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken (I used frozen)
1 (14.5 ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes or Ro-tel tomatoes
1/2 diced onion
3-4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon taco seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt

 feta crema
4 ounces cream cheese, softened (I used light)
3 tablespoons feta cheese (I used light)
1/2 lemon, juiced
whole milk, if needed

for serving:
tortillas
diced red onion
crumbled feta
shredded lettuce
diced tomatoes 
Tapatio sauce 

Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
In a blender, add the tomatoes, onion, peppers, garlic, taco seasoning and salt.  Pulse 3 to 5 times.  Pour over the chicken.  Cook on High for 6 hours (if chicken is frozen) or until you are able to shred the chicken.
For the feta crema, stir the cream cheese, feta and lemon juice until smooth.  Add milk if needed to thin it out.
Serve chicken tinga inside tortillas with your favorite toppings.