Epicurean Style

Carmel Apples

Recently we hosted a Carmel Apple Party and the small bite sized apples were a hit, so I thought I would share.  I used my handy little melon baller and made small circles out of the apples. 

  

Jackson enjoyed eating the "leftovers" and I actually really enjoyed making these little bite sized apple bits.  I used about 22 apples for a group of about 20 people.  We had a variety of apples--granny smith, golden delicious, rome, and fuji.  Everyone got what they wanted and we still had some left at the end.    

I cut the apples in advance because I wasn't sure how long it was going to take, but it was actually quite quick.  It only took me about 45 minutes to do all 21 apples. I did have them sit in a watered-down sprite bath so they wouldn't turn brown and it worked great. 

  

I had everyone attending bring a topping to share.  Which was great, since 1. That can get a little pricey, and 2. we got a great variety and not necessarily things I would have thought of. The other great part of having the apples in bite size pieces is that we could all try as many different toppings as we wanted.  

I had a tray of veggies to cut through the sweet and overall I would say it was a success.  

      

What has kept me busy...

So, sorry I have been a little M.I.A. the last week or so.  Life got crazy with Church Halloween Parties, School Halloween Parties, and me trying to get Jackson's and Bennett's Halloween Costumes finished.  I thought I would just share a quick re-cap of our Halloween.  

Jackson spotted a Hamburger Costume weeks before Halloween, but I wasn't willing to pay the price they were asking for it, so I decided to make it for him.  I was pretty excited that it actually turned out.  :)

  

 

Since Jackson was set on being a Hamburger, I decided to add Bennett into the action and make him a Hot Dog.  Their costumes turned out pretty cute.  Jackson loved being a Hamburger and put on his costume any chance he got.  Bennett was a bit clueless to the holiday, but was all smiles.  :)

 

Oh, while I was busy sewing, this is what Jackson and Bennett did to keep themselves busy...

  

Fun Sandwiches

We have been facing the dullness of lunchtime and decided to spice lunch up a bit.  He loved pulling these little sandwiches out of his lunch and apparently they were the envy of several other kids at school. 

  

When he came home and I asked him how school was he said, "I had the coolest sandwiches!  Thanks Mom, you're my favorite Mom!"  :)  Thanks Jackson.

 

Barstools

I have some of the best memories sitting up the bar eating lunch or watching my mom make dinner.  We have the smallest hint of a bar and every once in a while I wish it was a little bigger and I could sit Jackson up to it for lunch or to help me with dinner or cookies etc.  I found some awesome looking kitchen bar stools (not that I am really in the market at the moment, but a girl can always dream right?).  

I love the bright colors on the Holstag Bar Stools (I believe they are called)!  Oh, and I love the look to these bar stools.  I have to say I do like a barstool with a back (just makes me feel a little safer with kids sitting on them) and this bar stool with black body and brown seat, is not only beautiful, but it has aback (it reminds me a lot of the barstools my parents have).  

Maybe I could just get this bar stool as a stepping stool for all those extremely hard to reach cupboards.  :)  

Masks

We were between the hours 3-5 and feeling the dullness of life.  Waiting for dinner, Marc to come home and all feeling a little bored and whiny.  I don't know if those hours are some of your hardest, but seriously for us...we struggle.  We've used up our energy and are ready for something new and different.  

That's when I decided we needed to DO SOMETHING!  Anything!  I started racking my brain and with Halloween on my mind we pulled this one out of our hat.  Nothing new or earth shattering, but sometimes just seeing someone else's idea sparks your mind to do something, so I thought I would share. 

 

Jackson first painted a piece of paper, we cut our shape out and then I had him stick curly ribbon, shaky eye balls (a huge hit!), and we tied it with elastic.  It kept us busy and has actually provided some good laughs and scared squeals when he sneaks up behind one of us.  Bennett isn't so sure how he feels about it, but Jackson always lifts up the mask to show Bennett it is just him and then keeps on playing. 

 

Time Out

Sorry for the lack of posts this last week...we had some family stuff come up, but I will try to get back into the swing of things now that we have returned home.  

Michelle

Painting with Pudding

Jackson was having a REALLY LoNG day a few days ago and I decided we needed a change of pace.  I whipped up some pudding and thought I would just let him finger paint (and of course eat it) on paper with it, when suddenly I got the great idea that it was going to be a tinesy-bit messier than a simple piece of paper could handle.  

So I covered the entire table with plastic wrap (wrapping from end to end and side to side...to keep it in place) and then let him have at it!  

He Lovvved it! 

(What's not to love here though? I mean I am telling to go ahead and make a mess, lick his fingers and play with his food.)

! 

 

I would definitely recommend this activity.  Yes, it was up to his elbows and his face was covered with it when he was done, but a nice bath always creates another fun activity (Jackson loves to play in the water...FOR-EVER!).  

 

We actually only ended up with one small spill on the floor.  The rest was on the table top.  And seriously the clean up was EASY...stick Jackson in the bath and fold all the edges of plastic wrap in, lift off the table, and toss in the garbage. 

 

Easy-Peasy--and it will definitely catch your kids off guard since it is so out of the ordinary  

Death By Chocolate

Love this.  

I've heard it called many things,  but this is what we call it.  

It is divine.

Death By Chocolate

Layer in a Triffle bowl...

Broken up pieces of Brownie (You'll need two family size boxes of brownies)

Chocolate Mousse (2 packages)

Cream of Coconut (one can)

Cool Whip (Two tubs)

Broken up Skor or Health Bars (3-4 candy bars)

Pecans (1 1/2 cups of chopped Pecans)

Repeat 3 times. Divide the above amounts evenly between the three layers. 

Enjoy.

Sun Ripe Fruit Snacks

My sister-in-law introduced us to these lovely All Natural fruit snacks and we have been hooked ever since.  They are delicious!  I am a huge lover of Fruit Leather and these little beauties are basically chunks of fruit leather.  They are not only delicious and easy to eat a whole bag in one sitting, but they are made of 100% fruit or fruit and Veggies.  We like both kinds, the kind with fruit and veggies seem to have a little more to them, but they both have only all natural ingredients.

Ingredients:

Apple and/or pear and mango puree concentrates, apple and/or grape and/or pear and carrot and pineapple and passionfruit and lemon juice concentrates, citrus pectin, natural flavour, apple powder.

Nutrition Facts:

The Ingredients:

Apple puree concentrate, apple and elderberry juice concentrates, wildberry concentrate (concentrated cherry, raspberry, blueberry, cranberry and boysenberry juices, natural flavour), citrus pectin, natural flavour, lemon juice concentrate, apple powder.

The Nutrition Facts:

Play Clay

All Natural, No Cook Play Clay!  I found this recipe in the Family Fun Magazine (I've never actually read the magazine before, but when I heard they were going to have one my aprons in the magazine, I just had to check it out).  The magazine is packed with fun ideas, but this was one of my favorites.  

 

I only had Cocoa Powder on hand, so we only made brown play clay, but is smells great and it took a total of 5 minutes to make.  Jackson has been playing with it for the last 45 minutes..I'd say that it was worth it.  :) 

My Helpers...

  

Here's the recipe:

All-Natural Play Clay

1 Cup flour

3/8 Cup Salt

1 Tablespoon vegetable oil

Natural Dye 

Natural Dye Chart:

In a Medium bowl combine the flour and salt.  Pour in the oil and your chosen natural dye, and stir well.  Knead the dough on a floured surface (I just poured a little extra flour into the edge of the bowl and used that for kneading.  Keeps all the mess in one place.) for a few minutes.  If the clay is too soft add a little more flour.  Store the clay in an airtight container in the refrigerator.