Perfect toddler gift

The deals on online photo printing websites are flying fast and thick right now. Even the grocery store is printing out the occasional coupon for a free photo book. Instead of Grandma, give the toddler in your life a photo book. Fill it with pictures of family, pets, favorite places or animals and don't forget to include a photo of themselves. I discovered this would be a favorite when my two toddlers got their paws on a photo calendar of themselves. They were absolutely enchanted! Laminate the pages for additional durability and you've got a home run!

Handy Dandy Baking Tips

Since Christmas baking is probably well underway, here are a few helpful tips to help things go smoothly.

• Good news, readers: most cookies can be frozen for up to 3 months, so get baking while you have time!
• To freeze cookies, place in container in single layers with wax or parchment paper in between the layers.
• Meringue cookies do not freeze well.
• If you're decorating the cookies, ice them once they have thawed.
• When chopping sticky ingredients (dates, candied fruit, etc.) give the ingredients a quick spray of Pam to chop more easily. You can spray the knife blade too.
• For all of you royal icing fans, powdered egg whites are interchangeable with meringue powder.

Tips for smart shopping at Christmas!

It seems like everywhere I go, folks are talking about spending less money this Christmas. Here are a few ways to ease the strain on the ol' gift budget:

 

• Do a gift card "sweep". Collect all gift cards in your house and use those for buying gifts.
• Sell the gift cards on ebay for cash.
• Check out thrift stores and yard sales for gifts. Don't laugh, you can find brand new stuff!
• Use credit card rewards points for cash or more gift cards.
• Draw names for gift giving this year instead of buying each person a gift.
• Shop online. Free shipping is a big deal- it costs about $6 in gas just for me to go to the mall!
• Trade gift cards with a friend so you can shop your favorite stores.
• Sell items you can do without on ebay and use the cash to buy gifts.

Recycle those electronics!

Upgrade to a newer digital camera, mp3 player, or tablet? Don't leave the old one collecting dust- it will make the perfect gift for your child! We gave an old digital camera to our 5 year old and she was thrilled. We were quickly informed that "This was the best present ever!". Not only will it not cost you a dime, but you can dress it up to make it even more special with a new case or a gift card for iTunes. Remember, Christmas is less than 6 weeks away!

Fall bean recipe!

This recipe is perfect for chilly autumn nights. Whip up a batch of cornbread to round out this simple, yet delicious meal. It's also very inexpensive and packed with fiber and protein. Trust me, you're going to LOVE it!

Appalachian Cider Beans
3 cups dried great northern beans
3 cups fresh apple cider
8 oz. bacon, divided
2 small yellow onions, peeled and quartered

1 Tbs. dried mustard powder
6 Tbs. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. salt

Pour beans into a large bowl and cover with water. Soak beans overnight; drain and transfer to Dutch oven.  Add cider and simmer over medium heat uncovered, stirring occasionally for 30 min.  Remove from heat and drain, reserving liquid.  Layer 4 oz. bacon in a 2-qt Dutch oven.  Spoon beans over pork, bury the onion quarters in beans. Cook in small saucepan 1 T. dry mustard, 6 T sorghum or maple syrup, and 1 t. salt for 3 min. over med. heat.  Pour over beans.  Top with remaining bacon.  Add reserved bean liquid and hot water to cover (add water if beans are not covered).  Bake covered at 300 for 3 hrs.  Add hot water if beans become dry.

Post- Halloween Pumpkin Disposal

Still have that Jack O' Lantern sitting on the steps? Go beyond the obvious solution of eating it or roasting the seeds with these fun ideas!

• Pitch it into a wooded area for the deer (Make sure it's at least 100 feet away from your house to avoid attracting mice.)
• Slather the inside with peanut butter and hang from a tree for the squirrels
• Compost it
• Use it for target practice
• Call a local zoo or farmer- pumpkins make great snacks for animals!
• Feed to the chickens. They will love the seeds!
• Use for elementary math lessons. What is the circumference and radius? How much does it weigh? Estimate the number of seeds.
• Hollow out your old pumpkin, have the kids attach a "sail" and set it free in a creek or stream.

Perfect Peanut Butter

Finally tired of trying to stir the oil into my natural peanut butter, I scraped the whole jar into a food processor. After less than 30 seconds, the separated peanut butter was blended to perfection. To add natural sweetener, I added 3 Tbs. of honey and blended again. The result: smooth, creamy peanut butter with a light, slightly fluffy texture. Back into the jar and into the fridge and it's done. This is it folks, I'm never going back to hydrogenated oil peanut butter again!

Before: oil and dry crumbly peanut butter

After: smooth and creamy, perfectly dreamy!