More sneaky veggies

I can post this only because my husband  probably will not read this and won't realize that I'm sneaking veggies into his food too, not just into my daughters. 

I always keep stage 2 puréed baby food veggie in the pantry not just to mix into Mac and cheese (check out this healthier Mac and cheese link) I also will occasionally sneak it into grownup meals.

Once the sauce and meatballs are in I added some seasonings and then toss I the container of puréed food.

Mix it up and let it simmer. You can't taste the veggie purée at all but you're getting extra veggies and nutrients in each bite!

Easter Garland

Looking for a quick and easy Easter craft?

All you need is some construction paper and a sewing machine.

I used my cricut to cut out some egg shapes and rabbits.

Then I fed them into my sewing machine. Make sure to leave thread on each end to hang up the garland.

This was also a Pinterest inspiration. Linked from the Pottery Barn Kids website and retailed for $25. I used items from around the house so it didn't cost me anything out of pocket!

"Hoppy" Easter!

Spring Hydrangea Door Wreath

I was in need of a new spring door decoration and I found an inpirstional project on Pinterest. Came together so easily. If anyone else is in need of a simple new door decoration here is the tutorial.

Supplies: 

6 hydranga stems

12" MDF circle 

Ribbon

Hot glue

Wire cutter

Floral wire

Step 1

Separate leaves for the stems and use a wire cutter to cut the flower heads off. Cut it as close to flat as possible.

Using hot glue secure the glower heads onto the MDF board.

Then go over with floral wire to add done extra security, 

Next glue the leaves between the flower heads covering any gaps and allowing them to randomly stick out. 

Add a ribbon. You can make a simple loop or a fancy bow, whatever your skill level allows or decor calls for. 

While project cost $25 and took a total of 20 minutes start to finish including clean up. 

Pinned it: Tried it: Nailed it!

Link to Frozen Printable Craft

I love the amazing and fun printable crafts published here on Learn Create Love.
This newest post is new exception, printable Frozen characters Elsa, Ana, and Olaf.

Just in time for the dvd release of Frozen. So pop over to Learn Create Love (<-click on the link) and print out some charters for your little one to color or paint.

Elsa Dress

My daughters been asking for Elsa and Ana costumes ever dance she saw Disney's 'Frozen'.  I was feeling extra ambitious this weekend and decided to take on Elsa's ice queen dress.

I started by finding a pattern that had a similar style to the look I wanted. I found McCalls' pattern #5499. Option B with out the belt seemed to fit with the metal picture of what I wanted. 

Dress fabrics were on sale so I got 40% off of both of these fabrics. I really loved the the light color fabric because it had a bit of a texture on the front and wasn't as slippery as a regular satin, therefore making it much easier to sew with. Plus it kinda reminded me of the way ice looks. The sheer material with the sparkles would create the shawl behind the dress.

I layer out the pattern pieces making it a 7/8 (even though my daughter is only wearing a 5) giving her plenty of room to grow and still use the dress. I did make sure I cut it much shorter than the given pattern length. Tripping over dress hems in dress up shoes is not fun!

To create a more authentic Elsa look I made the sleeves white. 

Here are a few of the cut out pieces laid together. It is already starting to look good!

I cut sleeves long and then measured them to the length of her arm. Then I cut them at an angle.

After 6+ princess dresses I have learned that having this inside bodice part is essential to having a good looking dress up dress. The trick to keep it from popping up and flipping out while the kiddos are getting dresses is to use a little fabric fuser to adhere them down.

One other change I made to the pattern. I added velcro for quick kid friendly dress up. (The pattern called for a lace up back.)

Next, I had to figure out how to get sparkly "cape" on. Had I thought ahead I could've put it in between the two panels and had is sewn right in, but I was past that. So for a dress up costume a bit of a heat activated fuser on each of the sides would do the trick. (My grandma used to call it stitch-witch and it is a bit magical if I do say so!)

This a picture of it before the final surging of the sleeves and bottom hem. 

Here is a picture of the back. The cape/shawl dips down so it is easy to step in and out of. The only places it adheres to the costume is in the front. I cut it into 4 panels and then sewed them together. This gives in the look of a flaring out without begin too long and causing her to trip or to drag behind her.

Another tip. I have learned that when sewing dress up clothes a Surger is a must! I put 90% of this together with a surger. This keeps the satiny fabric from unraveling and it cuts the work in half.

Final product compared with the 'real' Elsa. 

I would say this was a success. The pattern was very simple and the whole thing only took a few hours over the course of 2 days. 

Have you made a princess costume? I'd love to see some other homemade princess dresses. 

Gluten Free Lasagna

I tried a new gluten free noodle today. A lasagna noodle!

The box says oven ready. I tried them the first time without cooking and it did not work!!! They were crunchy and over all not good. This time I cooked them for about 10 minutes and then drained them.

The only complaint I have it they really stuck together, both while cooking and when I drained them. I had to run water over them and carefully pull them apart one by one. Also, they a bit shorter than a traditional lasagna noodle so I had to cut (or use the ripped pieces) to fill the pan.

But after getting the lasagna assembled it cooked beautifully and tasted wonderful. 

I used my homemade ricotta with this (of course) and it made it absolutely delicious! 

I would say the noodles were a success.  It was so good that my husband had to double check with me that I used gluten free noodles, as he said, "This tastes so normal, are you sure you used gluten free noodles?"

Cherry Blossom Art

I got this craft for the Learn Create Love website. What a great site for quick crafts! There are lots of printable activities here that can provide fun and entertaining things to do for little ones. 

We used a Q-tip instead of fingers to make clean up faster and easier. 

I also like putting paint into small paper cups. Another clean up time saver.

After only 10 minutes my daughter made a beautiful cherry blossom tree that she wanted to give to grandma to hang on her refrigerator. 

Click HERE for the direct link to the cherry blossom craft.

Homemade Marshmallows

Homemade marshmallows (or as I like to call them, a little bite if heaven)

Marshmallows are good but homemade marshmallows are great and rather easy to make.
*(printable recipe at the bottom of the page)

Ingredients:

Three 1/4 oz packets of unflavored gelatin powder

7 tbsp water

1 1/2 cup granulated Sugar

1 cup light corn Syurp
1/2 cup water

2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Supplies: 

Small sauce pan

Medium sauce pan

Whisk

Kitchen aide mixer (your can use a hand mixer but it makes it much more labor intensive)

Step 1

In a small sauce pan mix the gelatin and water over low heat disk until fully dissolved. 

Wisk until it is a pale beige color and is slightly thickened. Remove from heat.

Step 2 

Mix the water, corn syurp and sugar in a medium sauce pan. Bring to boil and stir until fully dissolved. 

Check the temp on your sugar mixture. Use a candy thermometer to monitor the heat until it measures 265 degrees.  (I got impatient and stopped at about 240 and mine turned out fine.)

It helps to multi-task and while you are waiting for the sugar mixture reach its temperature… 

Step 3

Put your egg whites I the KitchenAid with the wisk attachment and let it go till they are stiff.

Once sugar mixture is ready and egg whites are stiff you are ready to start mixing!

Step 4

With the KitchenAid on a low speed slowly poor the gelatine into the stiffened eggwhites. 

Step 5

Then, with the KitchenAid still on a low speed slowly poor the sugar mixture in.

Step 6

Slowly increase the speed as the mixture begins to thicken. 

At first it just sloshes around but it will start to look like marshmallow fluff after a few minutes. 

Leave the mixer on and continue to beat until the sides of the bowl have cooled off.

(I left mine at a medium high speed.)

It doesn't have to be ice cold, just not hot to the touch anymore.

This is the point you can add color if you want colored marshmallows.

Step 7 

While the marshmallow mixture in cooling take the cornstarch and powdered sugar and mix them together in a bowl. Use a large jelly roll pan (or two smaller pans), lightly grease with Crisco, and coat the bottom with thick layer of the powdered mixture. 

(I like to use my metal strainer to help sprinkle a nice even coat on the pan.) 

Step 8

Scoop the marshmallow mixture onto the pan and "spread" it out as evenly as possible.

This is the most challenging step because it is super sticky. A spritz of non-stick spray on the back of a spatula will help out.

Step 9

Coat the top of the marshmallows with a thick coat of the powdered mixture and then set aside to cool. It is recommended to let it set overnight. (I was on a deadline and only let them set for 4 hours. It worked just fine for me.)

Step 10
Using a mini cookie cutter or a knife cut the marshmallows into what ever shape you'd like.

Toss them in a bag as you cut them with some of the cornstarch powdered sugar mixture and occasionally seal and shake the bag to coat the sides of the marshmallows so they don't stick together.

Now you have incredibly delicious homemade marshmallows!

Start munching on them now….

...or toss a few onto a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy! 

Homemade Marshmallows

Ingredients:

Three 1/4 oz packets of unflavored gelatin powder

7 tbsp water

1 1/2 cup granulated Sugar

1 cup light corn Syurp
1/2 cup water

2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup corn starch
1/4 cup powdered sugar 

1. In a small sauce pan mix the gelatin and water over low heat disk until fully dissolved. 

Wisk until it is a pale beige color and is slightly thickened. Remove from heat.

2 . Mix the water, corn syurp and sugar in a medium sauce pan. Bring to boil and stir until fully dissolved. 

Use a candy thermometer to monitor the heat until it measures 265 degrees. 

3. Put your egg whites I the KitchenAid with the wisk attachment and let it go till they are stiff.

4. With the KitchenAid on a low speed slowly poor the gelatine into the stiffened egg whites. 

Then, with the KitchenAid still on a low speed slowly poor the sugar mixture in.

6. Slowly increase the speed as the mixture begins to thicken. 

Leave the mixer on and continue to beat until the sides of the bowl have cooled off.

7 . While the marshmallow mixture in cooling take the cornstarch and powdered sugar and mix them together in a bowl. Use a large jelly roll pan, lightly grease with crisco, and coat the bottom with thick layer of the powdered mixture. 

8. Scoop the marshmallow mixture onto the pan and "spread" it out as evenly as possible.

9. Coat the top of the marshmallows with a thick coat of the powdered mixture and then set aside to cool. It is recommended to let it set overnight. 

10. Using a mini cookie cutter or a knife cut the marshmallows into the shape you'd like.

Toss them in a bag as you cut them with some of the cornstarch powdered sugar mixture and occasionally seal and shake the bag to coat the sides of the marshmallows so they don't stick together.

Recipe adapted from:

The Homemade Pantry: 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making

by Alana Chernila