My fun fast gift

Derek decided he needed to give his sarg. a gift so I quick put this together. I was so excited about it that I came right over here to share it with you! I made some powdered hot chocolate mix: 3/4 c. sugar (divided) 1 vanilla bean 1 c cocoa powder 1 T ground cinnamon 1/3 c dry milk powder Put 2 T of sugar and vanilla bean in a blender and blend until a fine powder. Combine remaining sugar, cocoa powder, cinnamon and dry milk in a bag, add vanilla sugar and mix well. transfer powder mixture to an airtight container. To serve mix 1/4 c powder with 8 oz. hot water.
I put the hot chocolate powder in a 1/2 pint jam jar and tied a red ribbon with instructions for making drink and a cinnamon stick to the top. Than I made some chocolate syrup: 1/2 c heavy cream 1 c chocolate chips 1 c light corn syrup 1 T vanilla In a sauce pan over medium heat bring cream to a boil. Add chocolate and blend until smooth. Add corn syrup and vanilla. Remove from heat. let cool than pour into jar with tight fitting lid. store in the refrigerator. to serve combine 3 T syrup with 8 oz hot milk.

Derek had found the Jack Daniels flavored coffee at the dollar spot in Target last week. I had a basket on hand that I stuck holiday tissue into. I had made some candy the other day that I wrapped up in some green serene wrap and tied with a red ribbon. I used one of the mugs we had on hand and added tissue and the coffee to it. I also wrapped up some mini marshmallows and some doughnuts I made this morning. Then added the candy cane for decor.

My Fisherman

I just wanted to tell you something about Derek. :) he really likes to go fishing but he doesn't just fish when he's out, he makes things too. the picture of my poor baby who dived off a picnic table is so you can see my necklace. Derek made it when we were on a camping fishing trip a couple of years ago. He made it from fishing line and some sort of stick he found in the north woods of MN. This summer Lars broke it and I lost the beads for it. This month Derek found some bamboo and dried it then made this new one for me. He is so cool. I like him a lot. :)

English Toffee

Here is a recipe for candy that the girls and I just made. It turned out really yummy.
1/2 lb. Butter (no substitute) 3 T. Karo syrup 1 T. cold water 1 c. sugar 1 1/2 c chopped nuts 1 lg Hershey bar ( or a bunch of choc. chips)
Place 1/2 of nuts on wax paper about the size of 13 x 9 " pan. Mix butter, sugar, syrup and water in heavy sauce pan. cook over high heat until brittle when tested in cold water( soft crack on my thermometer) . Pour hot candy over nuts. put broken chocolate over hot candy and spread. top with remaining nuts. break into pieces when cooled.
for part of mine I put chopped up pieces of candy can with the nut layers. I used the pampered chef chopper thingy.

This picture with the beautiful baby hand was because he saw me taking pictures of it and thought he should help himself to some. It's the sweetest picture.

alphbet update

Well I wanted to share some pictures of things we had and did lately.
The Pizza is our P- day pizza, it was very yummy.
The picture of my babies is our Q-day Queens. We made the crowns and Heidi's scepter.
And for today, T-day, Molly and I drank tea with our breakfast of (french) toast.
That's all for tonight. Tata. :)

Tonight

I am up way to late for me. but here is a quick note.
I am so excited about Christmas! we have been making things and doing lots of fun stuff together its just so fun! Derek is making a really awesome doll house for the girls. His carpentry skills are in very good working order. :)
the girls and I had a vary fun time today making and painting barbie food and dishes from clay. we are not vary talented but we had tons of fun and the girls like what we made.
the picture is of the babies with the dolls Derek made last week. You can see that Heidi's dolls head is smaller, Derek just made them from an idea he had so he didn't think he would have to make the heads as huge as he did. He wasn't going to make any doll for Lars since boys don't play with dolls but Lars was so excited about theirs and so obviously sad about not getting anything that was being sewn that Derek quick made the little bear.
well, Happy holidays to you and yours and enjoy all the good things like eggnog. :)

Thoughts

Today we are wearing pink and purple and Periwinkle and eating things like pears and peanut butter sandwiches. so can you guess what day it is? Good job. you are right! it's P day! And for supper we are having my all time favorite, Pizza!
We will be making it from scratch here is my recipe (this is what I made for Bob Blanshan Sr. and he loved it.) ; Pizza crust

1 cup warm water 1 Tablespoon Yeast

1 teaspoon salt 1 Tablespoon sugar

3 Tablespoons oil 2 cups flour(more or less)

dissolve yeast in warm water then add everything else and knead until smooth. Spread out on a pizza stone or greased pan. Bake in Hot oven for a few minuets. Then spread whatever your favorite spaghetti sauce on however thick you like top with lots of good toppings and cheese and bake another few minuets until the cheese is as golden as you like it.

That is how I make Pizza.

Another thought I had was that I must confess the only reason I have this is because all the cool people are doing it so I want to be cool too. ;D No, actually I really enjoy reading all of yours so I thought I should share too. :)

A blogging thing

This month has been alphabet month. we are spending each day thinking about one letter. We have been using the menu that Abbi posted. we have been having lots of fun with this and it has helped the girls understand letter sounds and with recognizing them.