Monthly Archives: January 2012

Jan31

day 62: baking away/ chocolate-dipped minnie mouse Oreo pops!

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MY “PINTERESTING” TAKE:

 

“PINSPIRATION”, FROM PINTEREST:

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Ingredients (my changes in red):
Wilton Candy Melts (Midnight Black) or chocolate (since it was not Halloween time, but Valentine’s season, we could only find chocolate, even after 5 stores, oh well, they still tasted great!)
Double Stuff Oreos (I need to buy some stock in that company)
Bite Size Oreos
Popsicle Sticks
red ribbon (we used black and pink ribbon with polka dots and zebra stripes of course!)

Directions:

Slide the popsicle sticks into your Double Stuff Oreos very gently by holding the cookie in one hand and sliding the stick with the other. Then take one bite size Oreo cookie and separate it into two halves. Scrape out the frosting with the edge of a knife. Slide the smaller cookies into the top of the Oreo to make her ears. Lay them out onto some wax paper.

Melt your candy melts in the microwave in 20 second intervals until it is melted to a smooth and creamy consistency. Now “dip” the Oreos into the candy. Now I don’t actually dip them but rather take a spoon and smooth it onto the front of the Oreos. You need to be very careful when doing this as the ears can come off very easily. Just do the front and then set it onto the wax paper. Do this for all of your Oreos and then pop them into the freezer. After 20 minutes you can take them out and then cover the back side of the Oreos with the candy. Make sure to cover the ears and the bottom of the stick well so that they do not fall apart. Once they have been popped in the freezer again, they will be really sturdy and you should not have a problem with them falling apart…even if you accidently drop the tray onto the countertop! Not that I may have done that…just saying!

Then take some ribbon and tie it into a bow around the base of the Minnie Mouse head to add a pop of color and detail. Serve them to your party guests or send them home with this fun and tasty party favor! Who wouldn’t love a Minnie Mouse Oreo Pop?

Until ipinterest tomorrow!

Karie J 🙂

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Jan30

day 61: fashionable momma/ casual day party outfit!

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MY “PINTERESTING” TAKE:

“PINSPIRATION”, FROM PINTEREST:

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• Project: day 61: fashionable momma/ casual day party outfit!
• Difficulty rating (1=easiest, 5= way too hard!): 1
• Would I do it again? yes, it’s such a classic jeans outfit that you can really do anywhere and never goes out of style!
• What I would do differently: Dress it up even more for a date night with some fun jewelry!
• Items used: Gap shirt, Joe’s jeans, J-Crew belt, Sosie bracelet
Until ipinterest tomorrow!
Karie J 🙂

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Jan29

day 60: cooking it up/mixing it up: yummy tortellini soup with basil, sausage, and spinach

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MY “PINTERESTING” TAKE:

 

“PINSPIRATION”, FROM PINTEREST:

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  • Project: day 60: cooking it up/mixing it up: yummy tortellini soup with basil, sausage, &  spinach
  • Difficulty rating (1=easiest, 5= way too hard!): 1
  • Would I do it again? most definitely! This soup is super easy, a big hit, and I could probably eat it twice a week! three-year old Morgan also had fun helping me in the kitchen with this one!
  • What I would do differently: I combined my mother in law’s recipe (thank you Barb, you know I love this one!), with the pinterest recipe, and a few other tweaks of our own, next time we might try kale! The pinterest recipe is below, and then our changes and additions from my mother in law are in red, our own changes in green. 🙂
  • Items used: Pinterest recipe from: http://www.fudgebananaswirl.com/sausage-spinach-and-tortellini-soup/

Ingredients

  • 1 lb turkey Italian sausage (I prefer hot, but sweet would be ok too) (we used chicken sausage, it was yummy!)
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • 40 oz low sodium chicken broth (we ended up using 64 oz)
  • 5 oz fresh spinach and 8-10 fresh basil leaves
  •  1 1/2 cups tomatoes, chopped (we used 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes, with juice instead)
  • 9 oz store-bought cheese tortellini
  • 2 tb unsalted butter (optional) (we put the butter in the end for a richer flavor and also sautéed the garlic in butter in the beginning!)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • parmesan cheese sprinkled on top when serving

Directions

  1. In a large dutch oven (or stock pot), brown sausage over medium heat until fully cooked (approximately 10-12 minutes.)  Remove sausage, let cool and slice in to bite-size pieces, set aside.
  2. Add minced garlic to pot and saute for 3 minutes.  Add wine and broth, scraping brown bits from bottom of the dutch oven. Bring to a boil and continue boiling for 3 minutes. Add tortellini and boil for another 5 minutes.  Add spinach, tomatoes and sausage.  Cook for 5 minutes, remove from heat.
  3. At this point, you can whisk in 2tb of butter, which adds a little extra richness to the soup.  If you are watching fat or calories, the soup is still delicious without adding butter.

Until ipinterest tomorrow!

Karie J 🙂

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Jan28

day 59: baking away/get crafty/ fashionable kiddo/ crafty kiddo/ Morgan’s 3rd birthday, Minnie Mouse theme, completed!!

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MY TAKE:

FROM PINTEREST:

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• Project: day 59: baking away/get crafty/ fashionable kiddo/ crafty kiddo/ Morgan’s 3rd birthday, Minnie Mouse theme, completed!!
• Difficulty rating (1=easiest, 5= way too hard!): 5, ok, I put in a ton of work completing this party, but it was totally worth it! The kiddos had a blast, and the look on Morgan’s face throughout was priceless!!
• Would I do it again? YES!
• What I would do differently: remember to bring our fresh flowers we bought that coordinated with the theme, remember the ice cream scooper, buy more plates, make more pom-poms, remember to bring the boy themed goodie bags 😉
• Items used: all recipes and individual posts to come on the items made that haven’t been posted on yet 😉 Hey I need to save some for many days of pinteresting! 🙂
until ipinterest tomorrow!
Karie J 🙂

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Jan27

day 58: get crafty/ minnie mouse table decor, treat favors, diy lollipop tree

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MY TAKE:

 

FROM PINTEREST:

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  • Project: day 58: get crafty/ minnie mouse table decor, treat favors, diy lollipop tree for Morgan’s 3rd birthday party (even great for valentine’s day, or any occasion really!)!
  • Difficulty rating (1=easiest, 5= way too hard!): 2 (probably a 3 if I didn’t get help from my ever crafty Aunt Cindy)
  • Would I do it again? yes, it is too cute!
  • What I would do differently:maybe go smaller so it didn’t take quite as long to do!
  • Items used: regular old clay pot spray painted black,  styrofoam ball, ribbons and flowers (all from Michael’s), pink themed valentine’s Tootsie roll pops (Fry’s grocery store and Oriental Trading)

until ipinterest tomorrow!

Karie J 🙂

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Jan26

day 57: get crafty/ diy treat bags for Minnie Mouse birthday party, or any party really!

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MY TAKE:

FROM PINTEREST:

•

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Project: day 57: get crafty/ diy treat bags for Minnie Mouse birthday party, or any party really!
• Difficulty rating (1=easiest, 5= way too hard!): 1
• Would I do it again? yes, they are very simple, and perfect for a young kiddos birthday.
• What I would do differently: possibly add a bow as well, maybe tomorrow!
• Items used: frosted circus animal crackers, my new “All Girl” cardstock paper stack (yea!), ziplocks (so easy!)
until ipinterest tomorrow!
Karie J 🙂

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Jan25

day 56: crafty kiddos/ a visit from the tooth fairy/ fairy dust/ free printable gift certificate, tooth chart, and a special note/poem from the tooth fairy!

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MY TAKE:

FROM PINTEREST:

Source: hammertown.com via Karie on Pinterest

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Project: day 56: crafty kiddos/ a visit from the tooth fairy/ fairy dust/ free printable gift certificate, tooth chart, and a special note/poem from the tooth fairy!
• Difficulty rating (1=easiest, 5= way too hard!): 1
• Would I do it again? yes, I think she will love it! I’ll be updating this post tomorrow with her take on it all!
• What I would do differently: nothing I can think of right now!
• Items used: free printable tooth fairy certificates and tooth charts (click on pictures above to link you to the site), our own craft glitter (from Target), fiskars round edge paper cutter
until ipinterest tomorrow!
Karie J 🙂

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Jan24

day 55: get crafty/ minnie mouse birthday party easy decor flower add-ons for cutlery and napkin holder, picture frame, and cupcake stand!

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MY TAKE:

FROM PINTEREST:

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  • Project: day 55: get crafty/ minnie mouse birthday party easy decor flower add-ons for cutlery and napkin holder, picture frame, and cupcake stand!
  • Difficulty rating (1=easiest, 5= way too hard!): 1
  • Would I do it again? yes! ALl were such a very quick and simple way to tie in your birthday theme with things that you already have.
  • What I would do differently: nothing really, except to do it to more things!
  • Items used: cupcake stand & polka-dot flowers and ribbons (Michael’s), black frame (Hobby Lobby)

until ipinterest tomorrow!

Karie J 🙂

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Jan23

day 54: get crafty/ minnie mouse birthday decor/craft mason jar holders & carmel popcorn snack cone holder!

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MY TAKE:

 

FROM PINTEREST:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • Project: day 54: get crafty/ minnie mouse birthday decor/craft mason jar holders & carmel popcorn snack cone holder!
  • Difficulty rating (1=easiest, 5= way too hard!): 2 (my mom helped with both, so it really was a 1 since she’s so good at crafting, thanks mom!)
  • Would I do it again? yes, the mason jar crayon holder can be used for anything really! The snack cone holder is a fun way to hand out snacks!
  • What I would do differently: nothing, loved them both 😉
  • Items used: my new card-stock paper pack by recollections from Michael’s can in handy for both crafts today along with some cute polka dot ribbons (Michael’s), polka-dot handkerchief (Michael’s), boa (the girl’s), and casserole dish (my own, covered up with the handkerchief and boa)

until ipinterest tomorrow!

Karie J 🙂

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Jan22

day 53: cooking it up/ easy football party appetizer/ chili con queso, yum, yum!

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MY TAKE:

FROM PINTEREST:

Source: laaloosh.com via Karie on Pinterest

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• Project: day 53: cooking it up/ easy football party appetizer/ chili con queso, yum, yum!
• Difficulty rating (1=easiest, 5= way too hard!): 2 (it really was very easy, except for the fact that I didn’t read the recipe thoroughly, and since I’m such a novice at cooking, I jut threw in the cornstarch and milk with everything else. Yes, I know this is a cardinal rule of cooking that you are supposed to follow, but sometimes I just do things like that ;)! I had to call my husband over, whom is a much better cook than I to remedy the situation, which he did, laughing all the way!
• Would I do it again? for a weight watchers diet chili con queso it was pretty good. But honestly I really still like the real thing, that is pretty hard to steer from!
• What I would do differently: go for a full fat version, unless you’re really watching it, then keep it the same!
• Items used:

Recipe from: http://www.laaloosh.com/2011/02/01/chile-con-queso-recipe/

Chile Con Queso Recipe

Ingredients:
– 1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained
– 1/2 cup diced Anaheim chilies
– 1/2 cup light ale beer
– 1 3/4 cups reduced fat shredded sharp Cheddar
– 1 1/4 cups skim milk
– 1 large onion, chopped
– 3 cloves garlic, minced
– 3 tbsp cornstarch
– 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
– 1/4 cup sliced green onions
– 2 tsp lime juice
– 1 tsp salt
– 1/8 tsp black pepper
– 1 tsp ground cumin
– 1 tsp chili powder

Directions:
Spray a large saucepan with non fat cooking spray and set over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until soft and beginning to brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Add beer and cook until reduced slightly, about 1 minute. Add 1 cup milk and bring to a simmer.
Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 1/4 cup milk and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add to the pan and cook, stirring vigorously, until bubbling and thickened, 1 to 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add cheese and cook, stirring, until melted. Stir in drained tomatoes, chilies, lime juice, salt, pepper, cilantro, green onions, chili powder and cumin . Serve warm, garnished with a bit of cilantro.

Entire recipe makes 4 cups
Serving size is ¼ cup
Each serving = 1 Points +

PER SERVING: 75 calories; 2 g fat; 3 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein; 1 g fiber

Read more: http://www.laaloosh.com/2011/02/01/chile-con-queso-recipe/#ixzz1kFZlYhwY
until ipinterest tomorrow!
Karie J 🙂

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