Spanish Stew/Soup over rice.

A nice thick low broth stew to eat over rice or potatoes, or to serve as a main/side dish.
Meat of choice: I used shrimp & boneless chicken. You can use any mix of shrimp, chicken, ham, spam, pork, hamburg etc. You can also use meat still on the bone, but I prefer not to asyou have to pick it out while eatting.
Put 4-5 cups of water in a large soup or rice pan. Add a few shakes of adobo, onion salt, garlic powder, and salt. Add a package of red sazon and one chicken boullin cube (or a spoonful of the fridge kind)
Bring the mixture to a boil. Add meat & cover, boil until cooked.
Add veggies.
I peeld and cubed 4 small potatoes & drained a can of corn and a can of carrots. You can use canned or fresh & you can add other veggies/beans as desired.
Add noodles. I choose dintalini noodles. Anything small works best, rice, abc noodles, small shells etc.
Taste your broth & add seasons or more water to desired taste. This is ment to be a low broth dish as it is served as itself or on top of rice/potatoes rather then eatten as a soup. However you can also surely add some more noodles/water to eat as a soup.
Allow to boil for about 5-10 then reduce to a simmer until ready to eat. (Be sure to make sure your potatoes are soft, if not give it a few more minutes)
I boiled a pan of yellow rice to serve under my soup, & also made crescent rolls. If you don't know how to make yellow rice you can use a boxed spanish or chicken rice, or boil in bag white rice.
Enjoy :)

CAKE POPS! CAKE BALLS!

You will need:

1 baked cake prepared from box cake mix or from scratch.

1 plastic tub of frosting or equal amount of scratch frosting.

1lb chocolate melts or chocolate of choice

1/4 cup oil

Popsicle sticks (optional)

Sprinkles, candies etc for decorations

Airtight container and wax paper/tin foil.

You may also want plastic bagies for decorating.

Step one, BAKE:

After you have baked a cake allow it to cool completely, no warmth. 

Step two, MIX:

Crumble your entire cake into a large bowl, and add the contents of your frosting container 

(flavor of your choice) using a spoon or gloved hands, mush the frosting and cake together, it will look like a crumbly cookie dough when mixed. You will use about 75%-85% of the can, possibly more depending on the cake. once it is able to mold in your hands, you've got enough frosting.

COOL!!!

This step is very important. The mix should always be cool before you try to work with it. Once your mix is combined cover it and allow it to cool for 2hours in the fridge or just under an hour in the freezer.

SHAPE:

Shap your mix into balls, or push into cookie pans or cut with cookie cutters to desired shapes. I rolled balls and inserted into a greased 12 heart shape cookie pan, sealed with plastic wrap for them to cool.

After you shape,

COOL!!!

Back into the fridge! THIS STEP IS IMPORTANT! if your balls/shapes are not 100% cool, almost frozen, they will crumble or fall off their sticks when you dip them. I use the freezer for cooling after they have been shaped and I allow them to freeze so they are more stable.

STICKS

If you want them on sticks you would now melt a small portion, like a spoonful of chocolate, dip the end of your sticks into the chocolate and then into your shaped balls. And COOL.

NO STICKS:

if you are making just balls without sticks skip the above step, for the lower steps you will need to drop your balls into the chocolate and rotate them with a spoon.

TO MELT THE CHOCOLATE:

In a microwave safe bowl melt chocolates using 30second increasements. If using traditional chocolate add oil as needed to thin. 

DUNK

Dunk completely cool pops into hot chocolate, then lay them on a sheet of wax paper, add any decorations and put them back into the fridge.

The balls must be completely cool/frozen or they will fall off the sticks and smush.If this happens you can recool and try again, or your chocolate may be too thick, in which case you can add more oil and melt it down some more. 

If you cannot get them to stay on the stick try spooning the chocolate over the ball instead.

Extra mix can be stored up to 5 days in the fridge, longer in the freezer. Pops can be stored in the fridge for up to 7 days or in the freezer for 1-2months. Move from the freezer to the fridge a few hours before needed. Use within 3 days of dethawing.

DRIZZLE

For a drizzle affect melt a second color/flavor chocolate and put it in a freezer bag cutting off the very tip of a bottom corner. Squeeze th bag gently an zigzag over your cooled coated pops.

Enjoy!

STROMBOLLI! (Sort of like a calzone)

You will need:
Sauce
Cheese
Toppings
Pillsbury italian bread dough
I bought a tube of pillsbury italian bread dough. Pop the seal & find the seam of the loaf, once its found you should be able to roll out the dough flat like a pizza.
Spread sauce, add shredded cheese & desired toppings.
Roll back up into a loaf and place on greased pizza pan.
Pinch the top seam to be sure its secure, and cut 4-5 slices into the top of the dough.
Preheat oven to 400 and bake until golden brown & desired crisp. Remove from the oven and allow to cool 5 minutes before slicing, using a sharp knife or pizza cutter cut into 1inch slices & serve.
(Left overs should be heated in the oven, not the microwave. They can be stored for up to 3days in the fridge, or frozen for later use)

Make your own balloon weights!

Having a party but don't want to pay $1+ each for balloon weights?, or don't like the stores selection?
Try these!
All you need is tissue paper, small rocks or stones & ribbon.
For mine I used light & dark paper tissue, and small white rocks that I took from a local parking lot.
Use 1 sheet of each color tissue (or 2 sheets of a single color)
Place a rock in the center or a small pile of stones, should be able 3inches wide/high.
Fold the tissue corners up to the center above the rocks, and grab the tissue with your hand securing it like a sack.
Cut about 20inches of ribbon, place the center of the ribbon onto the stem of the sack behind your hand, wrap it fully around once & secure with a knot or a bow.
Curl your left over ribbon.

On party day simply tie the end of your balloon ribbon around the same stem.

More pictures to follow!

Justin Bieber Bubbles personalized bubble favors

For my daughters Justin Bieber themed party, I bought packages of small clear party bubbles.
With my home computer & printer I designed and printed "address labels".
Address labels are the perfect size for these bottles, however due to some bottes having some type of writing and not completely smooth sides, you will also need hot glue. In addition you could print on regular paper and cut them out, bu I find the address labels to be much easier.
Simply dab a spot of hotglue onto the bottle, and stick the side of the address label to it, roll the rest of the sticker around the bottle, place another dab of glue under that edge & secure.
Add ribbons or bows for extra decoations.
You may also glue a line instead of a dab/spot if you think you need more. The middle of the label does not need glue.

(More pictures to follow)

Candy Fishing Party Game-How to make, diy/miy

My daughter wanted a justin bieber, carnival themed party. The solution, justin bieber decorations with carnival style games.
One of the games we decided on was
CANDY FISHING.
The object of the game is to fish out a prize.
You will need:
Candy (or small prizes)
Tissue paper
Tape
String/ribbon
A box
A piece of wood or plastic for a stick. We used a old broom stick, broken in half.
Paper clips.

First, wrap each candy individually. I folded edges and bent packages that had extra room to make them all sort of the same size. I also divided the candies equally by color.
After the candies were wrapped I used tape to attach a ribbon loop to the top of the candy.
I used plain white tissue to cover an old box.(optional)
I taped an end of the tissue to each end of the broom stick then rolled it around and secured it with more tape. I also folded a sheet of cut tissue into a thin strip and rolled it in a spiral around the stick.
To make a hook I unbent 2 paper clips and taped them together.
I used a piece of string to attach the hook by threading threw a small gap I left at the top, then covering with tape.

For the confetti strips I placed 3 sheets of tissue together, rolled them into a log, and cut thin strips. Once opened up they made single stringy confetti. I did this to sort of camoflauge the candy strings to add a little more difficulty/fun for longer play.
The kids take turns by age or by random order, trying to fish out a treat, there prize? Whatever is in the tissue package they fish out.
Enjoy!

ZOMBIE DR & ZOMBIE NURSE COSTUME

For halloween my children have always matched, well this year my son wanted to be a doctor and my daughter a zombie.
The solution? Zombie Nurse & Zombie Doctor!
We purchased a standard doctor & nurse costume at walmart. (we actually lucked out by planning ahead, we were able to get them for $2.50 a piece in november after last halloween)
I also purchased white & gray hair spray for their hair, a zombie makeup kit, and fake blood. If you don't want to get a zombie kit, gray & black makeup will do.
I cut slits into the tops of the costumes, and used the fake blood to make handprints and spatters on the costumes. I also used a glue gun to glue mini flies, spiders and glow in the dark cockroaches onto the costumes. I then added a few cob webs as well.
The costumes were a hit, and they are original so you don't have to worry about doubles at events.
My son also has. "Splitting headache" knife headband to go with his.
I'm thinking it will be cold on halloween so we will put white thermals on underneath.
Here are some photos...

Nose Trouble.

Let's face it, all 2 & 3 year olds get curious, well my son has an issue with nose trouble.
He has stuck a tic tac up his nose, and also a blue dye pellet from and easter egg kit. Both began to melt down quickly and slid right out.
Well today was a different story.
I was making some bows for my daughter to wear for picture day tomoro while my son was having a snack and watching monsters inc on the bed behind me. All of a sudden he starts screamin and crying and saying ouch while pointing to his nose. I asked him what happened and he responded with "pop corn".
I broke out the flash light and tweezers and there was no popcorn, kernel, or any other object in site. I played around with his nose getting him to sneeze, nothing. (A lot of sneezing but no kernel)
Then we tried blowing. Nothing.
Salene. Nothing.
He started telling me that it was gone because he didn't want me messing with him anymore. He would be quiet for a few minutes then the ouches would start back up again.
Well I had been texting his father on my phone, sure that an ER visit would be needed soon because he could get an infection, I decided to google "popcorn in nose". Sure enough my son was not the only one, but after 5 who said they had to make trips to the ER, I found one nurse practitioner with a suggestion.
Cover the opposite nostril, cup your mouth over there's like your giving CPR and blow one hard deep breathe.
Needless to say this worked like a charm, but a very messy charm! Within seconds my son was laughing because his nose was clear & pain free, and mommy was a slimy mess. I hadn't exactly thought this would work, but I now know it does and next time I should prepare myself. (But let's hope there never is a next time) I do warn you, it is messy and not for the light stomachs. It dislodges & removes the object, but all mucus and saliva will follow as well.
OH! And it was NOT a popcorn kernel, but rather a clear mis-shaped mystery item. To me it looks like maybe he got into a hot glue stick and bit a piece off.
Boys will be boys!

Pick A Pop! Quick and easy party game

This is a quick & easy party game for any party. The guests simply pick a pop (which they can keep) and they get an additional small prize based on the color of their pop stick.

*I started with a regular shoe box, and I spray painted it black.
*Using a "sargent liquid metal" permanent marker I wrote pick a pop, win a prize on the side. & added some stars for decorations. You could use any kind of permanent marker depending on the color of the box, you can also print a paper and attach it, use letter stickers, or paint it on.
*I wanted 25 pops, and I have 4 different prizes, so using 4 different nail polishes (pink, yellow, green, purple).
I split the pops evenly and painted 6 of each color by just painting the tip with the polish. I used 3 different brands of pops, and split them by flavors so that each pop would be a unique prize & not the same for every flavor.
*I then used a pen to poke holes about 1.5inches apart in 5 different rows on the box.
*once everything is dry the pops slide nicely into the holes.
*I also painted a prize key on the back so whoever runs the game knows the prizes.
ENJOY!
PLEASE SHARE PHOTOS AND TIPS IF YOU RECREATE & FEEL FREE TO ASK FOR HELP,SUGGESTIONS!

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Do it yourself chinese take out party favor boxes

We all love the cute takeout box favors but they can be expensive and $1 or more a piece, here's a cheap simple way to make your own.

Visit your local Chinese restaurant and ask to purchase some empty containers, they buy them in bulk for around .10cents, usually they will allow you to purchase them. I picked up 10 for $2 at my local Chinese joint.

Purchase spray paint in the colors of your theme. They range from 1-4$ depending on the color you choose. A single can sprays 20 large boxes completely, and only one coat is required.

Wrap your hand in a plastic shopping bag and spray all 4 sides including open tops and wires. Bottom doesn't need to be sprayed but you can choose to spray bottoms and insides. I leave the bottoms white so they can stand up for drying.

Afterwards you can embelish with stickers or spray a stencil design.
Spraying two colors is easy because if you spray with only one side facing you you can easily spray multicolored sides without disturbing the other side.

They will dry evenly because of the material.

A cheap cute favor box for a quarter or less!

Here's some pics of my current progress, I'll have more photos once they have Ben decorated with stickers and ribbon.

ENJJOY!

recycle mylar balloons as gift sack/wrap!

When you have a celebration & it come to a close, or when you"ve had balloons around the house for a while & they have lost there "juice" the first thought is to pop & toss.
Well ive found a great way to reuse them.
To deflate the air simply make a small snip with a pair of sizzors and squish out all the air. Fold them up & place them with your gift wrapping goodies.

When you need a gift bag or sack for a gift basket, special gift, or an off shaped item thats hard to wrap regularly.
simply cut a slit in the top to of the balloon and split the seem big enough to insert your goodies inside, twist the top & secure with tape/ribbon. Its more sturdy then tissue paper & gives a nice sparkle & design. (Even more great when the balloons have a design or words on them)
You can gift as is, or place inside a gift bag.

You can also cut the entire balloon open if your looking to wrap and not bag.

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meatloaf with bacon

I going to base this on a 2lb loaf. You can add or subtract ingredients as needed, they dont have to be exact. There will als be variations listed.
Cup of milk
Half cup or more of breadcrumbs(you can also use 3-6 whole slices of white bread, allow them to soak in the milk you are using)
Few shakes of parm (grated) cheese
Parsley-optional
2 eggs ( about 1egg per 1-2pounds)
2 pounds meat (hamburg, ground turkey, meatloaf mix,ground chiken, whichever you prefer singlely or in combination)
1 package thin sliced bacon
1 small jar spaghetti sauce ( or ketchup)

Combine meat, milk, bread, eggs, cheese, parsley, and any other optional ingrediants such as sliced onions or garlic in a large bowl. (I leave the onion etc out of the recipee because i do not use it.)
Instead of shaped into the traditional loaf i like to spread my mixture to cover the bottom of a small casserole dish, such as an 8.5x11 or 9x13 cake/baking pan. You optionally my also shape into a loaf and put it onto a broiler rack (has a top layer with holes and a bottom layer to catch grease)
Either way you choose, spread either your sauce or ketchup onto the top of your meat mixture, making a thin even coat. (If using ketchup you may mix in some brown sugar and mustard about a tsp of each)
On top of the meat and ketchup you will layer your bacon in a single layer with sides touching. Depending on the size of the pan/loaf you may need to slice your bacon in half. Thin bacon is better as the thinner it is the better it cooks nd crisps. They bacon is a nice touch and adds more flavor/juice to the loaf.
Preheat oven to 350 and cook about an hour. If needbe at about 45mins slice threw the center to be sure the middle is getting cooked. May require a little more (or less) then an hour depending on the oven, and the thickness.

Best complimented with mashed or baked potatoes. Also works well with a pasta like baked mac n cheese. Leftovers make great sandwhiches or pizza toppings :) You could also sprinkle in a little mozerella or cheedar cheese for a bacon-cheeseburger twist. I also fry up the remaining bacon to use with blts the next day, or in my case bc"s because my kids dont like lettuce & tomatoe. Its a simple grill cheese with bacon inside.

Enjoy!

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chewy-gooey brownies

These brownies take a lil longer 2 cook, but there super fudgey, no cake squares here!
You will need (mix in a bowl)
3 eggs
1cup flower
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup mini-choc morsels/kisses (melt before mixing in)
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup softened butter
Optional: 1/4cup unmelted choc chips, for "reeses" brownies 1/4 cup un melted peanut butter chips.
Mix all ingredients together & preheat oven to 250, cook on 250 for 1hr and then turn heat up to 350 and cook an additional 20minutes. Cooking on the low temp insures the brownies cook/heat evenly, they will still look gooey before the temp is turned up. (You can also cook on 350 for about 45 minutes, but i prefer the long way)
Allow brownies to cool before cutting, & if covered in foil overnight they taste even better as a leftover snack!
Perfect texture for a brownie sundae!

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Mickey Mouse party horns

For my sons birthday, we are going with the mickey theme.
I purchased a bag of regular $1 party horns/blowers and with just a few minutes, some glue, and some black cardstock i created cute little mickey horns.
Simply cut out your mickey shapes & hot glue them onto the horns.

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Mickey & Minnie face cutouts boards for pictures

I made these boards so the kids at my sons second birthday (and the adults) could take fun pictures as mickey or minnie.
I plan on putting a 4x6 of each guest in their thankyou cards as our thankyou gift for attending.
I will then make a collage of all of them to hang in my sons room.
To make the boards, I purchased a foam poster board. I Then drew out MICKEY first. When i was done drawing him, i traced an oval over most of his face, leaving some of the side/cheeks exposed. I then cut out the oval, and turned the board over, using the oval for my guide to make MINNIE. This way, one board provides both charcters with a simple flip.
You could also make more then one and connect them together for multiple children to take pictures together.
I choose acrylic paint for coloring. Its alot of space to try and use markers or crayon, and the colors will fade or be uneven. The paint was simple & cheap. Each color costs bout 50cents for a bottle ($2 for large bottles) but I already had some on hand.
I used a qtip for the colors, this way I could toss them after each color instead of dealing with brushes and water.
I hope you enjoy, and remember if you make one yourself, share your thoughts & photos!
(I will have more pictures soon.)
I also plan on doing a background design, once I can decide on one.

(And yes I would be HAPPY to make these for local friends, if your prefer not to "craft" them yourselves.)

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how to make a Cupcake tower for less then $5 (3-6 tiers)

The cupcake tower I made is 6 tiers, I plan on fitting between 50-60 cupcakes and then a small cake on the top tier.
I went without a base, as it will be more balanced being flat on the table. I used 6 circles for the tiers i aimed for 16, 14, 12, 10, 8 and 7 inch boards. But i did not measure, i just cut a large circle using a pizza pan as a guide, and then made 5 smaller circles. I used 2 foam poster boards which are $1 each at most stores. Sometimes 2/$1 at dollar tree stores.
For the centers I used 5 old can goods (apple sauce to b specific lol) leave the food in the cans as the weight will help sturdy the tower.
One at a time wrap your cans in white paper or the fabric/paper of your choice. You can also cover the boards but i chose not too.
Then using hot glue, glue one of your cans to the center of your largest circle.then glue the top of the can, and stick the next tier on, and continue up, for as many tiers as you would like, but i would not go over 6 tiers.
When you are finished stacking you may add ribbon or other decorations.
Enjoy! And if you make this tower please share thoughts and pictures!
Mine came out a little crooked because i miss aligned one can, but when viewing from another angle it will look straight.

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