Graduation Cap Cake Pops Made

I like to make something for the class as they move to the next grade.  I found several things on Pinterest for Graduation but I’ve been dying to try out this cake pop pan my mother in law bought me.  So I came up with an idea to make a cake pop and then add a graduation cap on top to make it look like a little graduation head.  Cole’s school colors are red and black.  Here is what I came up with.  What do you think?

 

First off I made a Vanilla Cake Pop from the Baby Cakes Shops.  It was a simple recipe and I did like they said and put it in a piping bag (aka poor person ziplock bag).

Ingredients:
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• ½ cup milk
Directions:
1. Combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.
2. In a separate bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and creamy.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.
3. Alternately blend in flour mixture and milk into butter mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture.
4. Fill each cooking reservoir with about 1/2 full. 
5. Bake 350 for 20 minutes.
6. Allow to cool and glaze or coat, as desired.

You Will need:

• Wilton Candy Melts (In your School Colors)
• Cake Pop Sticks
• Graham Crackers
• Peel Twizzlers
• Frosting (Something you can use like glue to stick the hat on top)

I made the cake pops stuck them in the freezer while I melted some red Wilton candy melts and dipped them in it.  I then put them in the fridge so they would firm up.   I then took graham cracker rectangle and broke in half to be like a square for the cap.  I dipped that in black candy melts and let them sit on some wax paper before they hardened I took some peel twizzlers  to look like tassels hanging off the hat.

Check out the step by step here, plus you see my helpers .  I only had one cake pop stand (I even sent Rick to Walmart and couldn’t find another one).  So we did some extra and did them with out a stick in a cupcake holders.

So Friday we wrap up the 2nd grade.  I hope our goodies are loved.

End of the Year Teacher Appreciation

Cole’s last day of 2nd grade is on Friday {insert sad face here, and maybe a little panic of a house full of kids}.  His school is a private school with small class rooms, his current class is 1st and 2nd grade.  So he’s had the same teacher for the last two years.  I wanted to do something a little special for her.  And of course my love of Pinterest has given me many ideas.  I have made two for her today, tonight I will be making cake pops that look like graduation heads … lol wish me luck!

First off I made this really cute personalized Water Bottle I found on Circuit your Classroom.  I used my cricket for the first time to make it.  You can always print onto construction paper if you don’t have a cricket (a personal cutting system).

You Need:

• Water Bottle
• Construction Paper (2 colors if use cricket)
• Tape
• Ribbon

You can either print out the words on the paper or use the cricket: “Have a Cool Summer Mrs/Mr. ….”.  Cut paper to fit your water bottle.  I used a large flavor water from Walmart.  I found some cute desk tape at the dollar store that had numbers to tape the top and bottom.  You can also tape and then put ribbon on top and bottom if you like.  I tied some celebration ribbon on and it’s done!

My second project was a fun Summer Tote I saw on Skip to my Lou.  I found everything at Walmart for around $30 to $35.  My bag was a little larger then the one I saw on Pinterest so I added some tissue paper on the bottom to bring everything up.

You need:

• Beach Bag
• Beach Towel
• Flip Flops
• Cup
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen Lotion
• Magazines

Open your bag (if yours is large like mine fill with tissue paper).  Arrange the items in the bag.  I also added the personal water bottle I made from above.  I added the tag she had her link didn’t work so I printed in word the words and then used my cricket again to make a yellow and then an orange sun (make one smaller and place on top so you see both colors) to make the tag.  Words “All year you worked hard to make learning fun. So now it’s your turn to relax in the sun!”  Add a cute little sun chair from clip art and your done.

So there you have it some fun thing to do for the teacher in your life!  Here are a few more pictures to show you .

Summer Time … Watermelon Cupcakes

I’ve been seeing the watermelon cupcake on Pinterest for a while and I’ve wanted to try them out.  All the links I clicked on only had a picture.  So I created my own.  I took a yellow cake recipe added some red food coloring and some chocolate chunks.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 8 egg yolks
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups cake flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Chocolate Chunks (or mini chocolate chips)
• Red Food Coloring
• Oreo Cookie (I added one at the bottom this doesn’t have to be done)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 - 8 inch round pans. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg yolks one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Add in your red food coloring (I use Wilton Gel).  Once mixed well add in your chocolate chunks (chunks look like actual seeds). If you want put a Oreo at the bottom then/or pour batter into prepared pans.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tops spring back when lightly tapped. Cool 15 minutes before turning out onto cooling racks.

Easy Pudding Frosting

For the frosting I made one I’ve seen again on Pinterest but I couldn’t find an actual link to the recipe.  So why not create my own link!

Frosting Ingredients

• 1 package Cream Cheese (Room Temperature)
• 1 container whipped topping (Room Temperature)
• 1 package of vanilla pudding (I used pistachio)
• 1/2 to 1 cup of Vanilla (depending on how thick you want it)
• Food Coloring if needed

Directions

Cream together the cream cheese and whipped topping.  Once mixed completely add in pudding. I used pistachio for the color and the taste.  Slowly add in 1/2 cup of milk mix and if you need it to be thinner add another cup of 1/2 cup of milk.  Add food coloring if you want it to be a deeper green. Once mixed together you put in a piping bag (or a Ziploc bag with corner cut off).

Now Frost your cupcake and tada you have a Watermelon Cupcake with an Oreo bottom if you please.

Patriotic Jell-O Shot’s

Over this past weekend I was invited to a house party.  Let me back up, I’ve been walking with a friend from my previous job.  We post on FB about us walking.  One day I get a private msg from a friend of hers.  Turns out this girl was one of my very first roommates 15 years ago!  I know small freaking world.  Being the sweet person she is she invited me to their house party.  Well you know me I can’t go in empty handed so I brought Jell-O shots and Cupcakes (I’ll show the cupcakes tomorrow).  I thought with this being a celebration of the amazing people that fight for our freedom, why not do red, white and blue.

I found a Fourth of July  Jell-O Shot that I played around with and I’ve found this to be the best layered shot around  I’ve done so far.

Preparation: Lightly spray wells with bake spray. Wipe off excess (only a light coat is needed.)

Ingredients:

• 1 large blueberry Jell-O Box
• 1 large strawberry Jell-O Box
• 2, 14oz cans sweetened condensed milk
• 5 cups water; divided use
• 8, single packs of Knox Gelatin, divided use
• 2 cups of vodka, divided use

Instructions:

1. Measure out 2 cups water into a bowl and sprinkle 2 packets of gelatin on top and allow to bloom for 2-3 minutes. Pour bloomed mixture into a saucepan over low heat. Stir mixture constantly until gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat and pour in blueberry Jell-O.  Add ½ cup of vodka to blueberry Jell-O mixture and stir to combine.
2. Repeat step two for the strawberry Jell-O.
3. Empty sweetened, condensed milk into a bowl; set aside. Measure out 1 cup of water into a bowl. Sprinkle 4 packets of gelatin on top and allow to bloom for about 2-3 minutes. Pour bloomed mixture into a saucepan over low heat. Stir the mixture constantly until the gelatin dissolves. Remove from heat and pour the dissolved gelatin into the sweetened ,condensed milk. Add 1 cup vodka to mixture and stir to combine.

Assembly:

1. Remove chilled pan from refrigerator. Measure and pour evenly out strawberry Jell-O into wells. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill for about 30 minutes to an hour to set. 
2. Remove the pan from the refrigerator. Measure and pour evenly the sweetened, condensed milk on top of strawberry layer. Return pan to refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes to an hour to set.
3. Remove the pan from refrigerator. Measure and pour evenly of blueberry Jell-O on top of the sweetened, condensed milk layer. Return  pan to refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes to an hour to set.
4. You can do smaller layers but I didn’t have time to do multiple layers so I just did the 3 layers.

Hope you try this for your next party, it was a lot of fun to make and watch the people enjoy.

Queue in Car full of kids … NOW

This am I will be heading out with Cole’s class to head up to our state capital Olympia!  We will playing all day at the Children’s Hands on Museum!  Watch out world we are bring 22 kids with only 5 or so adults!  I think I may have to take that Excedrin before I leave the house today.  I may just need a nice glass of wine when I get back.

Wish me luck!

Cool Sweet Treat

Since I’ve been dieting for you know the end of time, I still need something to curb my sweet tooth.  I found this of course on Pinterest my obsession of the current times.  BUT I am actually making things I find … yup I tell myself that so I rationalize it is ok.

My latest creation are these yummy Low Calorie Greek Yogurt Cheesecake Minis on Volume 25 blog.  She added a few blueberries, I didn’t have any left so I just drizzled a little agave syrup.

Greek Yogurt Cheese Cake Mini's

INGREDIENTS:
12 oz Plain Greek yogurt
1 package Sugar Free Fat Free Cheese Cake Pudding Mix
1 Cup almond milk (or any other milk)
3 Tbs Butter
5 Graham Crackers
12 Cupcake liners

(I used low fat Graham Crackers, you can also use non fat Greek yogurt to lower fat / calories)

DIRECTIONS:
In Zip Lock Baggie, crush graham crackers. Melt butter and mix into graham crackers until well blended. In a lined cupcake tin, evenly distribute cracker mixture, using your fingers, pack it down. In a mixing bowl, add Greek yogurt, Cheese cake pudding mix, and milk and mix well. once well mixed evenly distribute into the cupcake tin. Pop in your freezer or refrigerator for about 30 minutes. 

I put mine in the freezer it was the perfect treat.

Makes 12 Cupcake sized cheesecakes

Enjoy, I promise this is a treat even if you are not on a diet.

Here today … Gone Tomorrow

I found the most amazing channel on dish it was (yes was) called Pixl.  You all know how much I love my Hallmark movies.  I came upon this station when I missed one of my shows and did a search to find it.  I was so excited to find it but it was on a station I didn’t recognize.  Turns out it was a great station that had all my favorite movies (mostly a few years old) with NO commercials.  I was so excited and my DVR was getting a work out.  When I’m doing things around the house I love to have a good movie going on in the back ground.

Then today I went to go look to see what was on today to see the channel was removed.  Looks like it was a on a week or so free preview.  MAN don’t you hate it when you fall in love with something to come find out it is no longer or you know have to pay extra for it.  CRAP I’m already stretched to the max with our TV bill for $70, you think they can throw in a channel or two … ugh.

Well it was great while it lasted, Pixl I so will miss you and your no commercial movies.

It’s funny I planned to write this great post about this station I had it all typed up last night so you all too could check it out.  Then I come in this AM to find it was gone.  So my post was deleted and a farewell was added.  Yes I know it was a TV station but when you’re home most of the time good movies that you don’t mind your kids watching are hard to come by.

Back to rainy days here so bring on the soup

We have gone from some amazing 70 and 80 degree days to downpour rain.  I must have had my physic hat on when I did my meal plan because when I woke up Monday it was pouring and didn’t stop so my plan for dinner fit so perfect.  Here I thought I was thinking it was just something easy but it turned out to be easy and warming just what we needed.

I found this recipe for Low Fat Lasagna Soup on What’s Cookin’ Italian Style Cuisine that turned out so yummy and the best part was I didn’t spend an hour + making perfect stacks to just come out with goo when I tried to cut into it.  YUP mine never looks like the kind you get in the restaurant standing up and looking all pretty.   Enjoy this soup I promise everyone will love it and not even know it was low fat.

Ingredients:

32 ounces of homemade chicken broth or use canned low sodium 99% fat free
2 lbs of fresh plum tomatoes diced or use a 28 ounce of whole tomatoes rinsed then diced to lower the salt content
2 cups homemade tomato sauce or  jar store bought your favorite kind
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 bell pepper finely chopped (I put mine in the food processor)
1/2 teaspoon each chopped parsley, basil, oregano fresh or dried
4 links of Italian mild turkey sausage snipped in small slices with a kitchen shears
1 pound of ground turkey
1 tablespoon oil
2 cups broken whole grain lasagna noodles
2 teaspoons grating cheese
salt and pepper to taste
pinch of cayenne

(I used canned chicken broth, canned tomatoes, store bought sauce.  I skipped the parsley and cayenne.  I know I should use fresh but you have to go with what you got.)

In a large dutch oven add the tablespoon of olive oil, both meats,  and peppers. Fry until the bottom starts to turn brown, stirring, this takes around 10 minutes. Add garlic and cook one minute. Next add all the liquids and spices. Cook around 20 minutes. Add broken up lasagna noodles and 2 teaspoons grating cheese. Let it cook for another 10 minutes for noodles to soften. Ladle into oven proof bowls, top with shredded fat free or low fat mozzarella cheese and broil till brown. You can also add a dollap of fat free ricotta cheese instead or both.

See I told you it looked yummy!  It was perfect!

Got my Pre Planning Hat on …

Planning a head of time and buying all the molds etc before hand for Cole’s party worked so well and made me less stressful.  So the theme for Caden has been picked and my Pinterest board is full and ready to go.  I went on to my favorite sites Amazon and Ebay to look for molds and fun things I will need for this theme … drum roll please … Shark!

Oh yes we will be having a lake party at my parents waterfront in July and it will be all about the sharks!  I’m thinking crayons and chocolates will be on the must do list.  I've found a few fun molds I can’t wait to experiment with.

Check out what I have bought so far!  I can’t wait to share the invites and all the other fun things we will be doing.

First off I bought a cool Shark Holder for the Shark Fin Cupcakes I will be making.

Silicone Shark Cookie Mold

This Shark Fin Ice Mold I’m going to try with Crayons.

This is for the punch bowl.  Shark Fin ice ring.

Shark Sucker Chocolate Mold

There we go , it was a packed weekend with work and fun road trip.  I didn’t get a lot of down time so just a quick post for today!

Google Drive with some templates for this party.

We Wrap the Week with Pasta

I’m a little off with my recipe post the past few weeks.  So I thought why not end this week with a yummy recipe!  And let’s hope I get back on routine next week … lol.

I found this very yummy recipe for Bacon Ranch & Chicken Mac & Cheese on the Weight Watcher Website.  It was a very simple recipe to make and the boys loved it.  We actually even had it for left overs the next nigh with is UNHEARD of here at the house.  My boys (including the big one) think left overs are no no’s.  I used a few different things which may bring the points down  little bit.  I used Reduced Fat Cream of Mushroom, Red Fat Cheese, Turkey Bacon and whole wheat macaroni.

Ingredients

• 8 oz cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast(s), Cut into 1/2 inch pieces  
• 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour  
• 1 can(s) canned condensed cream of mushroom soup  
• 2 serving(s) Lite Shredded Cheese Blend TJ's  
• 1 serving(s) Trader Joe's Organic Shredded Mozzarella Cheese  
• 1/2 tsp onion powder  
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder  
• 1 tsp dried dill weed  
• 1/2 tsp sea salt  
• 1/2 cup(s) Kraft Shredded Colby & Monterey Jack Cheese  
• 3 slice(s) crisp cooked bacon  
• 7 1/4 oz uncooked macaroni  
• 2 Tbsp regular butter  
• 12 oz low-fat milk

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain.

2. Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, reserving drippings in pan. Finely chop bacon; set aside. Increase heat to medium-high. Add chicken to drippings in pan; sauté 6 minutes or until done.

3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat; sprinkle flour evenly into pan. Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly with a whisk. Combine milk and soup, stirring with a whisk; gradually add milk mixture to saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat; let stand 4 minutes or until sauce cools to 155. Add Italian cheese blend, onion powder, garlic powder, dill, and salt, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in pasta and chicken.

4. Preheat broiler.

5. Spoon mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle evenly with reserved bacon and colby-Jack cheese. Broil 3 minutes or until cheese melts. Cooking Light, MARCH 2010

Enjoy I promise you will and everyone you serve will enjoy this one!  Have a wonderful weekend!  I’m hoping to have a nice relaxing one.

It’s a Wrap on Mother’s Day

One day a year it’s all your day … lol ok well it sounded good.  With Rick not having a full time job, but working a few part time gigs to help out.  One of these jobs of course was on Mother’s Day.  But I did have a great weekend.  Rick was able to get off early and took me and the boys out for dinner which was a real treat that we don’t get to do often.

Rick built the pool my MIL bought us last year (but then Rick went into the hospital).  The neighbor boys of course are wanting to come over I may have to pretend I don’t hear the doorbell … lol.

Cole’s class made cute things for the moms.  They could make a bee or a ladybug.  Cole said he made me a ladybug because I hate bee’s … lol.

We put the boys to work blowing the yard .. lol.

We had a few moments of fun, got to see Bapa’s motorcycle again and we had a picnic in the backyard.

We had a lovely time going up to my parents house to play in the lake and have a BBQ for Mother’s day also.  It was a great time of hanging out and laughing.  I’m so blessed to have my little guys.

Happy Mother’s Day to you all!

Runny Noses and Sneezes …

We have hit allergy season hard core here at the house.  I think I may take stock in Kleenex.  My head feels like it may explode and the boys are sneezing and have snot everywhere.  I mean really everywhere!  Why is it when they sneeze it shoots out over their clothes and heck if you’re a 1/2 mile in the way you may end up with spray.  Sleeves are used for wiping and it looks like snails have run up all of their clothes!

Wish us luck and care packages of Lysol wipes are welcomed … lol!

PHOTO SOURCE

Easy Kid & Adult Pleasing Recipe

Mother’s day Rick had to work during the day and the kids were dying of hungry after church so I wanted to make something quick.  I so this on Pinterest a while back and just knew I would have to make it.  The kids loved it and heck I even thought it was pretty darn tasty.  This could be a hit if you took it to any party.

What you Need:

• Crescent Rolls (I used Reduced Fat)
• 4 Mozzarella Sticks – Cut in Half (I used light)
• 40 Pepperoni’s (I used Turkey)
• Garlic Powder
• Pizza Sauce

Take one crescent roll place 5 pepperoni’s on the top of your triangle.  Place one half of the cheese stick on top of pepperoni.  Wrap up crescent rolls and then sprinkle with garlic powder.  Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes.  They are warm and serve them right away.

There you go took about 5 minutes to put together another 13 to bake!  Heck a quick meal in under 20 minutes!  Enjoy!

Mother’s Day Card–This Flower’s For You!

For Valentine’s day you saw you me make the blow pop cards so I just had to make this “Flower for you” photo card.  It was a very simple card to make but I think it is perfect for my mom.

Supplies:

• Pipe Cleaners
• Tissue Paper
• Razor Blade (Or Scissors)
• Photo Paper
• Computer to print (or Print at local store and pick up)

I edited my photo with a heart and a Happy Mother’s Day.  I printed on my computer on my home printer.  I used a blade to make 2 slits on the hand (that is out stretched).  I cut some tissue paper (using 3 colors to make it pretty) and wrapped the pipe cleaner around like a stem.  Play around and you’ll find the best way to make a flower.  You then put the pipe cleaner threw the cuts to hold it onto the picture.  I think they turned out so cute and it only took me around 5 minutes each.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you amazing Mother’s!  I hope you have a wonderful day and put your feet up!  You deserve it!

My Love of Pinterest …

As many of you know by know I’m a little obsessed with Pinterest.  NOW at times it is not my friend. You know when:

• The picture is a dead link
• The title doesn’t let me know what the item is
• The whole recipe is in the caption
• A bunch of things that I don’t care about in a row (BUT then I remember hello you post like 20 + recipes I bet that pisses ppl off too … ok I’ll just vent in my head on that one) LOL

Ok yes I get a little nutty but you all know what I mean!  I know so many ppl that say they pin things but never do them, but you know I’m nutty and if I pin it I will do it at some point or time.  I saw this and yes it was a Pin (hehe) that I thought was so funny.  Forgive me for the one swear word I do try to keep the blog family friendly (so unlike my truck driver mouth at times).  I thought I would give you a laugh for the day.  Hopefully I’m not the only B that uses pinterest for their ideas!

Go Go Go Alexis ~ Crazy packed weekend

We had one packed weekend!  It started Friday with Cole’s school holding their annual Olympics at the local military base.  It’s a great event that includes the surrounding Lutheran schools.  So the kids get to meet new friends and have some fun. The 1-2 grade do a bunch of little activity stations.  The 3-8 grades do the running and jumping events.  We have a concession stand that helps the PTF for our school.  It was a great event.  This year I worked the am so I could then take Cole and hang out with him this year and help with the concession stand.  Here are a few shots of this years Olympics:

Saturday I got up and worked my normal shift.  Then clocked off and ran around like a mad women getting the kids ready for our first party of the day.  We hit the ground running for this “Rock Star” party.  The birthday girl’s dad did some awesome bubbles.  We did a 3 legged race, poor little Caden was dragged a little by one little boy who kept yelling at him.  He came up to me a said “Mama I’m just a little boy”, big hugs dude it’s ok.  Same little boy kept pushing on Caden after a few stern words and looks he finally did stay away from him.

We ran home got the scooters and put my running shoes and we hit the park to meet my friend and go walking.  We learned a lesson that during the afternoon during the week this public park turned into a soccer and BBQ there was like 200+ ppl! YIKES we cut it down to 2 miles and headed home.  After pulling in we her a bunch of honks and we found we had a visitor.  My dad surprised us with his new Cam Am Spyder.  Soon they will have their own helmets so they can take a ride with him.

After dad took off I made a mad dash to finish up my cupcakes.  Then we hit our 2nd party of the night.  A friend from high school had a Cinco de Mayo party.  It was perfect since kids could play.  They even had a pinata that went up and accidently fell and broke open … lol! It was so much fun and the cupcakes were a hit for the kids.  The adults had a VERY yummy margarita pie (I so need the recipe).

Sunday we had church, my friend is going to do the late night service so I took the boys to the 9am service which was nice to have the afternoon to do laundry, grocery shopping etc.  Hopefully I’ll meet a new friend to sit with at church.  So there you have it a fun weekend!