Crafty Candle Present

Every Christmas I try and make a hand made gift for certain people in my family.  I didn't have much time this year so I decided to buy an inexpensive candle and make custom labels.

I choose the candle flavors depending on my family members taste in scents and bought white label paper.  The paper I bought was 

Avery® White Full-Sheet Labels for Inkjet Printer. 

This is a project you can really make your own.  I made some frames that matched the pictures I had chosen and went from there. 

How To Make It:

1. Pick out your favorite pictures and put a creative boarder around the picture or a saying on the bottom like "Merry Christmas". You can do whatever you would like here and make it "yours"

2. Print out the picture and cut it out.  Make sure it is the correct size to fit the candle.  You don't want any bumps under the label. 

3. Once you have the Picture cut out and the back side peeled off time to lay the Picture on the candle.  Start from one corner and work your way diagonal.   This prevents and air bubbles from forming under the sticker.  If you do get an air bubble you can work it to the side and press it out.  

Wha la the easy peezy hand made gift is done.  this is great because when people open the gift they think it is a candle then they look closely and it has their picture on it and it means so much more!  

Caramel Turtle Cookies

Happy Holidays!

I have had another crazy yet exciting Christmas.  I have traveled countless hours and had many family adventures.  Overall I would say it was a great Holiday.  During the holidays baking is always a tradition so I made sure I got all my baking in while I was home.  I made many different cookies and tried a few new recipies.  I have seen the recipie for turtle cookies all over the internet so I new I had to give them a try.  They have chocolate, sugar, pecans, and carmel..how bad could they be??

This recipe is so easy and pretty much fool proof!  They are delicious and to Die for!  

What You Need:

Cookie:

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/3 c. cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

8 T. (1 stick) butter, softened

2/3 c. sugar

1 large egg, separated, plus 1 additional egg white

2 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 c. pecans, finely chopped

Caramel Filling:

14 soft caramel candies (I used Kraft)

3 T. heavy cream

Chocolate Drizzle:

1 square Semi Sweet Chocolate

How To Make It:

1. Mix flour, cocoa, and salt; set aside. Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy, with an electric mixer. Add egg yolk, milk, and vanilla; mix until fully combined. Add the flour mixture until just combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.

2. Whisk egg whites in a bowl until frothy.  Put chopped pecans in another bowl.  Roll dough into 1-inch balls, dip in egg whites, and then roll in pecans. Using a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon, make an indentation in the center of each dough ball. 

Bake at 350 degrees until set, about 10 minutes.

3. Microwave the caramels and heavy cream for 30 second intervals at a time stirring in-between until smooth.  Once cookies are out of the oven, repress the indentation in the center of the cookie. Fill the indentation with 1/2 teaspoon of the carmel mixture.  Cool on pan for about 10 minutes.  

4. Place chocolate in a bag or bowl to melt it in the microwave.  Stir chocolate at 30 second intervals to ensure there will be no burnt chocolate.  I use a Ziploc bag and cut the end off and drizzle away however you would like the design to be.  

Let these completely cool before you eat them. In my opinion, I hate them when warm, but once cooled I couldn't keep from popping them in my mouth.  They are bite sized so that makes them less calories right??..

Original Recipe

Pumpkin Bars

A Staple in many houses during the winter season are Pumpkin Bars and I have the most delicious recipe to share. Many people make pumpkin bars, but sometimes they can be too dry or too rich with the icing.  I came upon this recipe years ago and keep it near me at all times for when my family is in need of some Pumpkin!

What You Need: 

4 eggs

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

1 can pumpkin (Not pumpkin pie mix)

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Icing:

1 package Cream Cheese (room Temperature) 

1/4 cup softened butter

2 or 3 teaspoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 to 4 cups powdered sugar (depending on how sweet you want it)

Walnuts for decorations 

Directions: 

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9 by 13 pan. 

2. Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin until smooth. 

3. Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves mixture.  

4. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool Completely before icing.

Icing:

1. Beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla with mixer until smooth. 

2. Gradually add the powdered sugar and spread over bars evenly.  Add nuts if desired 

I know this looks like a lot and difficult, but it really isn't.  This is fool proof!

~ Easy Chip Dip ~

Hello all!

I hope everyone had a fabulous and filling Thanksgiving! I know I ate way too much! 

While I was home I got my baking and cooking fix in.  I made a very simple dip for my brother to enjoy on our time off. I want to share it with you before Christmas hits so if you are in need of a quick chip dip you can use this. This dip can be very spicy or mild all depending on your taste buds!

What You Need:

2 packages Cream Cheese

1 Can Rotel 

1 Pound of Sausage 

Directions:

1. Cook the sausage until it is brown and separated into small pieces. 

2. Add cooked meat to a bowl with the undrained can of Rotel and cream cheese and mix together. Stir until cream cheese is melted.

3. Poor into a 9 by 9 greased pan and cook on 350 for 30 minutes. Let sit for ten minutes after taking out of the oven

 This couldn't be easier and very delicious.  If you have extras keep them for left overs. This is great warmed up also!    

Enjoy the Chip Dip