Homemade Raspberry Marshmallows

If you’ve never made a homemade marshmallow, you must give it a try. Homemade marshmallows are so soft; they practically melt in your mouth. Think of all the different flavors you can make; vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cinnamon, the possibilities are endless. The good news is they are not very hard to make. But I warn you, once you try homemade marshmallows; you will never want the store bought ones again.
I got this recipe from Martha Stewart. The only thing different from Martha's recipe is that I made my marshmallows with Raspberry Seedless Jam instead of Strawberry, only because that is what I had on hand.

■1/2 cup water
■2.5 cups sugar
■2/3 cup strawberry jam, preferably seedless
■2/3 cup light corn syrup
■dash salt
■2/3 cup water
■4 envelopes gelatin
■red food coloring
■icing sugar, for dusting
1.Add first 5 ingredients to a large saucepan. Bring to a boil and simmer.
2.Meanwhile add 2/3 cup water to mixing bowl and sprinkle all of gelatin over top to soften (at least 5 min.).
3.Once the boiling liquid has reached 238ºF on a thermometer. Remove from heat and pour over softened gelatin.
4.With the whisk attachment, beat on low for approximately 5 min. Gradually bring the speed up to high, beating on each speed for 5-8 min. until mixture has cooled and peaks form when beater is lifted (30-40 min. total).
5.In the last 10 min of beating prepare jelly roll pan (15×11 inch). Spray with cooking spray (or grease canola oil) and place a piece of parchment over top, pressing down to stick to the oil. Grease the top of the parchment.
6.Once done mixing add red food coloring bit by bit and mix in until the pink color you desire is achieved.
7.Pour marshmallow mixture into the prepared pan and smooth top. Let sit, uncovered, for 3 hours or overnight until dry.
8.Dust work surface with icing sugar and flip pan over to release the dried marshmallow. Peel off the parchment paper.
9.Grease a 1.5 inch heart shaped cutter with cooking spray or wipe down with oiled paper towel. Cut out to desired shape and toss into icing/powdered sugar to coat.

* these will last for up to one week in an airtight container at room temp.

* dip in chocolate for a little added fun.

* You can chop up the scraps and use them as “mini marshmallows”.

* Or maybe some Home made Moon Pies...yummy!

Chocolate Dipped Oreo's

Are you looking for an easy Valentine's treat to make with the kids? Or maybe you just want to make a super cute treat to give to your friends. Chocolate dipped Oreo's are a yummy and simple treat that is sure to please everyone. One thing I love about making these is that they are so easy to make. Just dip the Oreo in chocolate and decorate. How easy is that?

All you need is-
Double Stuffed Oreo's
Skinny Craft sticks
Melting Chocolate or Almond Bark
Icing and sprinkles
Parchment or wax paper

Melt your chocolate according to the package directions. Dip the tip of the craft sticks in the melted chocolate and insert into the Oreo "stuffing". Let this dry before you coat the rest of the cookie in the chocolate. By letting it dry before dipping it helps "glue" the stick to the Oreo. Next dip the Oreos in chocolate, decorate and let dry on parchment paper. How easy is that!
*Tip* If melting chocolate is too thick, add a teaspoon of shortening and stir. Continue to add shortening until you reach desired thickness.

Halloween Goodies

Halloween Costumes

My family loves Halloween. We love the costumes, we love the candy and we love the weather.
Every year my sweet Hubby goes the extra mile and makes one of the kids a special costume. He usually starts building the costumes in late September, but this year nobody wanted a "special daddy Costume", that is until yesterday. My middle son decided he want a cooler costume than what he originally picked out. So hopefully my hubby will be able to pull it off it such a short amount of time.
Meanwhile, I thought I would share with you a few of our past Halloween creations. Enjoy!

Doctor said I am fine!!

About a month ago something happened to me that scared me really bad, I thought I had a heart attack.
I didn't tell many people, mainly my family and a couple of friends. I didn't want everyone questioning me and worrying about me. Though the no worrying part didn't work out to well.

As you can imagine it was pretty scary for a while. It is not fun trying to live life as usual and yet in the back of my mind I am thinking about my own mortality and the repercussions it could bring to my family. Meanwhile the doctors tell you to not get stressed, take it easy, no caffeine and eat healthy. I think one of the hardest things for me was when I had my initial episode (the one where I thought I was having a heart attack)it was right before school started and one of boys was there and saw what happened and ran and got my husband, who thankfully was running late for work that day. So then my kids knew something was wrong with mommy. Of all my kids I think it was hardest on my oldest son who is 14. He wanted to know exactly what was wrong with me and every time I wold try to give him a simple answer he knew I wasn't telling him everything. He has since learned everything and understands that I really am OK.


I won't bore you with all the details but I have seen multiple specialists, had tons of test run, and even stayed the night at the hospital. The only consistent answer that I that have is that I have a premature heart beat. They don't know what caused my initial episode, and they don't know what caused my premature heart beat, but they said that I am fine now and not to worry about it any more.
So now I really can live life as it was. I plan on getting back into my exercise routine, maybe play some volleyball with some friends, work in my extremely neglected garden and enjoy my wonderful life with my family. I really do feel very blessed, even though it has turned out to be nothing to serious, this was a bit of an eye opener to me and I plan on living my life the best that I can.

Newest additions to the family

I forgot to blog about the newest additions to our family.…4 girls…well chickens….. well actually chicks. I don’t know why but I have always wanted chickens. My husband I have talked about wanting to have chickens but that’s all it was…talk. So 2 days before the new school year started, Robbie’s Agriculture Class bunny was stolen and now I have an empty cage. So about a month ago,I asked the boys if they wanted to get some chickens and of course they said yes. So the boys and I took a little ride to a feed store and purchased 4 chicks. Two Barred Rocks (the black chicks) and two Buff Orpington (yellow chicks). We got them when they were just a few weeks old and they are just adorable. I never knew that chickens could be so sweet and so social. They all have their own personalities. You’ve heard the expression pecking order? Well it is true, and we are already starting to see it in our girls. Oh how rude of me, I forgot to tell you their names-Sandy, Haley, Chicken Little, and Chicken Butt. In case you couldn’t tell, my husband and my boys picked out their names. So I will try to keep you updated on our chicken adventure and maybe one day I will have some fresh eggs to share with you.

Chunky Apple Cake

My mother recently saw a yummy picture of the Southern Living Chunky Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Icing and asked me to make it for a recent get together. I was happy to make the cake since I am always looking for new things to try and bake. I have to admit I was a bit skeptical of an apple cake. It didn't sound very appealing but, I would never turn down a request, especially since my mother was the one requesting it.
The good news is it turned out delicious. It reminded me ALOT of a carrot cake and I love carrot cake! The bad news is my mother didn't get any. I show up to her house with cake in hand and she says to me "I don't know what I was thinking asking you to bake that cake. I am on a diet and can't have any". WHAT?! So my mother tortured herself all night asking everyone how the cake was. But I am very proud of my mom for sticking to her diet. By the way, she has already lost 19lbs. Go Mom!!!!
I did promise her a would bake her another apple cake anytime she wants, as long as she is off her diet. Ha ha!

Southern Living Chunky Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 cup butter, melted
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled and sliced( I used Gala because it was what I had at home)
1 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (optional)

Preparation
Stir together first 4 ingredients in a large bowl until blended.

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; add to butter mixture, stirring until blended. Stir in apple slices and 1 cup walnuts. Batter will be very thick. Spread into a greased 13- x 9-inch pan.

Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting; sprinkle with walnuts, if desired.

Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8oz) package of cream cheese, softened
3 Tbsp butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Beat the cream cheese and butter at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar until blended. Stir in vanilla.