1st Christmas Done and some more Gift Ideas

Well today we drove down to Katikati and spent the day with my parents.  It was great to see them and they loved seeing us....We had cold roast chicken, salad and rolls and Richard and I were on Desert Duty.  Every year around Christmas I make trifles but with out the alchohol and normall use a really good orange juice.  Well today I made a Chocolate & Berry Trifle.  Photos to come when we have edited them...I used layers of chocolate brownie, then mixed berries (that had been frozen and then I cooked them down with some sugar and then cooled), then layer of custard, then brownie etc again finishing with whipped cream and shaved chocolate on top...OMG it was devine...Will def be making it again.

Sometimes it's the similest gifts that are the best...I have grown up with Mum loving to go to 2nd hand shops and she knew how much David loves books and got him a thick illustrated kids dictonary and OMG he just loves it and has had his nose glued in it for most of the trip back.

For one of Richard's work colleagues I am making the following gift which will suit him right down to the ground.



LUMP OF COAL

I got the idea from one of my fav sites eighteen25 from this blog post of there's which includes the recipie and Tag download.

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/12/lump-of-coal.html

I am going to make up a few of these this week as good joke gifts...

Oh well better head off and work on some more ideas and blog posts and will be back tomorrow to discuss Wrapping Gifts and all sorts of things like that.

Further Christmas Gifts

Yesterday I went and visit David's school teacher who is currently on Maternity Leave to visit and drop off some Christmas Presents.

For Tash I made the Crayon Wreath that I have been so excited to make.  I loved doing this and will def make them again.  Maybe next Christmas to order.

The following was "Caramel in a Can" that I found the label on the top on a website and you wrap a tin of condenced milk in patterned paper and put the label on top.  Turns out it will be the perfect present for her husband as he loves caramel so I chose well for him.

I am just in the process of making my mum's present which is a Kraft Callendar with vintage photos of Woodville and Gorge Township that my mum's family first settled in in 1874 when they emigrated from New Zealand.  I will take a photo of that and Blog about it when I am finished.

How is everyone's Christmas Present/Gift making and purchasing going?  Is anyone finished?  How much has everyone got to go?

I am spending the coming week finishing off as many of my presents as possible as school finishes for the year on Friday.  I want to have all the teacher's gifts finished hopefully by Thursday morning.  Though the present for their music teacher who is only there on a Wednesday will be done early.

What Christmasy things has everyone been doing?  David went to Sylvia Park this morning and got a photo with Santa and as his school were in the Clevedon Santa Parade this year he reminded Santa to make sure he was in Clevedon in time as they needed him and his raindeer.  So cute!  Pics of both these events to come once I have edited the Parade pics.

Take care and will Blog again tomorrow. Thank you to everyone for your wonderful comments.

Starship Hospital

This is the first of many posts i will be doing over the next few days.  Thursday morning saw me up bright and early to finish organising last little bits and peices before heading into town to drop the following off.

Christmas Card Kits - 4 boxes worth

Big Basket of Little goodies in kits for Parents

Pile of gifts we had been collecting during the year.

There was a photo taken that once I get a copy I will upload it of myself with our wonderful contact at Starship...I felt amazing being able to help bring joy to them all.  I was told that the Play Specalists would be over joyed with everything.

Thank you sooo much to everyone for all your help.  This is something I am going to continue through out the year every year.

Watch out for another blog post latter today.

Spreading "Handmade & Heartfelt" into Schools and around!

This morning saw me arrive at David's school early and set up a Christmas Tree and decorate it before any of the kids arrived to bring some Christmas into the class room as a surprise.  I have also been helping their teacher with "handmade" ideas and next Tuesday they will be making stained glass cookies and handmade crackers which I am making up kits for and the dough for the cookies - i've got them some awesome cookie cutters of mine to borrow.  Today the kids started making up their own little cardboard Christmas Trees.

I have been in contact with all 3 families and by the end of next week everyone will have their Christmas Trees and decorations.  I will be doing a little profile on each family this coming week.  Our Timaru family had moved 3 times since the earthquake and I have found out over the weekend that this coming weekend they will be moving for a fourth time and they didn't actually think they would have a Christmas Tree this year.

I am in the process of getting everything organised for our Star Ship visit on Thursday morning.  Getting together and bagging up 200 card kits is a long task but one that I am enjoying doing and feel that I am helping to bring Christmas Spirit to them.  I will make sure I take pics of everything and will post on Thursday afternoon on my return.  So far we will have about 200 card kits possibly more, gifts for some of the pacients and 20 little kits of a few goodies for parents in some wonderful christmasy fabric bags donated by Tanya W's mum!  Thanks heaps you are wonderful.

How are everyone's Christmas Plans going?

I am off to get some photos printed tomorrow so that I can finish presents for my mum and dad as we are having our first Christmas at their place this weekend.  David and some of the other kids at his school will be in one of our local Santa Parades over the weekend and he is sooo excited.

Handmade Decoration or Gift Swap

Hi Everyone, Just a quick post while I finish up some emails and more Blog Posts for you all.  At the moment I have 5 people down on the swap list and thought there were more but with the corupted file I can't check.  I had 6 but I know one pulled out the other day by email becuase of all the amazing work she has on at the moment.

If you are not on the following list can you please urgently email me on debbie.blincoe@vodafone.co.nz so that I can get these swap names out please.

Debbie
Nicki V
Sandra
Ali
Louise

If this is all the actual number is that's totally fine.  We are going to have so much fun!

Have an awesome Summers Day everyone.

Big Big Big Annoucment!

Big Big Things happening at Handmade & Heartfelt today....

We have had 3 nominations for our Christmas Tree and Decorations Paying in Foward...Well after reading and reading each nomination 5-6 times each and can't decide....

So over the next 7-10 days we will be having a Christmas Tree Farm delivier a tree in Christchurch and Timaru and we will be getting the tree that we have here at our place delivered to Hobsonville.

The Chrstchurch tree and decorations are going to a wonderful family of 5 that until very recently lived in Bexley.

The Timaru tree will be going to a family originally from Christchurch that since the earthquakes have had to move 3 times with 3 young children with out transport.

The Auckland/Hobsonville Tree will be going to a Single Mother with 3 children who even she has been through many many issues she is so generous with what she gives and does for others.

I will share more about each family once I have their permission and Sarah and Nic C if you can please email me and we will work on details of me getting decorations to each family with some other goodies we have here and arranging delivery of the Christmas Trees....

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Awesome Gift Idea & Starship Update

How is everyone going?  OMG I can't believe that it is the 01st December already!  Where is the time going.  Our Advent Stockings are up and David has his first note in there waiting for him for after school.  This is because I had a very sore eye this morning and didn't get them up in time.  David's first activitiy is to put up our new Christmas Lights into our Christmas Tree.

The following is an awesome idea that I first read from Nic Howard on the Big Picture Scrapbooking Newsletter and then on Nic's Blog.

This is Directly from Nic's blog

Like everyone else, I do have stressful moments, which is why I thought I'd share my idea for creating gifts for that not-so-easy-to-buy-for person.  We've all got one or two of those!

Handmade cards.  And before you write the idea off as an old one, I know that people have been giving sets of blank handmade cards for years.  BUT how about this tip for going that leeeeeettle bit further.

Handmade.  Some boy ones, some girl ones, some my Grandmother would love, just a whole lot of not-too-tricky kinda cards.

But here is the cool bit.  I find out friends and family's addresses that she might normally send to.  I write them on envelopes, ready for her to choose a card, write a sentiment and pop it in.  The COOLEST thing though is where the stamp goes - I write the date of the recipients birthday.  I arrange them all nicely in a box in date order to be sent and the recipient  would always be organised.

To update you all on Starship.  I am off to Starship Thursday 08th December in the morning delivering gifts we have been collecting during the year, the Card Kits (final amount will be announced next week) and some Parent Gifts that I have been putting together.

All going well I will have another Blog Post up tonight or first thing tomorrow morning. 

Happy December everyone!

Appologies, Catch Up and ideas!

Firstly everyone I am so so sorry for the delay in posting over the last little while my cold turned into a scinus infection combined with hayfever I have been running sooo far behind it's crazy but slowly catching up on things and house doesn't look so bad...still messy but still looking better.

Over the next few days I will be playing catch up with everything.

I have been Christmas Baking well trialing over the last few days and have come up with the following including photos and recipies.  For both of these I have used my new favourite baking helper..My little ice cream scoop pictured below.

Photo to come

Chocolate Chip Cookies from taste.com.au

240g softened butter
300g (1 1/2 cups) firmly packed soft brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
300g (2 cups) plain flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
350g chocolate chips

Pre heat oven to 190C and Line 2 large baking trays with baking paper.
Place the butter and sugar in an electric beater and beat on high for 5 mins until pale.  Add the egg and vanilla and beat for a further minute. Sift the flour, baking soda into the bowl.  Add a pinch of salt then use a wooden spoon to carefully mix in the flour until well combined.  Fold in the chocolate chips.  I used my small cookie/ice cream scoop.  You can then flatten the balls like this photo following or i got the same result from just balls of dough.  Allow room to spread.  Bake for 15-20 mins (the biscuits should have started to darken at the edges but will still be soft).  Remove from the oven and I let cool on tray for a few mins then transfer to wire rack to cool.



Chocolate Peppermint Candycane Whoopie Pies - inspired by recipie from taste.com.au

125g softened butter
3/4 cup caster sugar
2 tsp peppermint essence or to taste
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups plain flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 180C.  Line baking trays with baking paper.  Using electric mixer beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy and then add in essence and mix again.  Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.  Meanwhile sift flour, cocoa, baking soda and baking powder into a large bowl.

Add half the flour mix and stir to combine into butter mixture.  Then half the butter milk and then stir to combine and repeat with remaining ingredeints until just combined.

Drop, Pipe or use small scoop of tablespoons of mixture onto tray about 5cm apart.  Bake for 8-10 mins or until puffed and cooked through. Stand ont rays for 2 mins and then transfer to wire racks.

When cold sandwich together with your favourtie butter or creamcheese frosting with peppermint essence in it then roll each sandwich in crushed candy canes.

Another alternative to rolling the edges of the Whoopie Pies in the crushed candy cane is to mix the crushed candy canes into the frosting.

Following are some awesome things which have been purchased to come into our home to go towards Christmas Gifts.

File folder was from Typo and I will alter this with Patterned Paper and personalise for the recipient.

These awesome wooden Red Apples were from Typo as well and are awesome for Teacher's Gifts.  I am going to put 1 each of these with gifts for David's main 2 teachers that he's had this year.

The following awesome box is also from Typo and I am going to use the following Print that I have found to go on the top with modge podge and will fill this for my Father in Law with seeds and hand cream for gardeners.

Photo to Come

The following box is from Spotlight ad I will use the following print and modge podge it to the top to decorate and fill with chocolate bars for one of Richard's work colleagues.

Photo to Come

Friday night we will be announcing the Family that will be getting some extra Christmas cheer this year with a Christmas Tree and Decorations where they normally wouldn't have one...

I am working on some ideas for Christmas Crackers to help out David's Teacher and Class...The kids have no idea but when they come into class on Monday Morning there will be a Christmas Tree set up with a few decorations.  I found this awesome glittery red and also green crepe paper yesterday so using that for the crackers - looks great.

Is there anyone else that wants to join with our Handmade Gift/Decoration Swap?  Close off date is tomorrow and then I will be emailing everyone on Friday.

Appologies that there are a few photos to come the photos weren't co-operating.

Take care everyone and see you all in December...Lots to share tomorrow!

Christmas Baking Part 1

Here is my first post on Christmas Baking Part 1.


Toffee Pop Truffles

Take 1 Tub of Cream Cheese and mix in mixer until smooth.  Put a bag of Toffee Pops or after Dinner Mints in a plastic bag or food processor and crush until nearly fine...Mix together with crushed biscuits and cream cheese.  Form into small balls and put onto a baking tray with baking paper and set in the fridge or freezer until firm.  These can be eaten just like this or dipped into melted chocolate.  YUMMY!

Reindeer Cookies - Idea from current Countdown Indulge Magazine

Make Gingerbread Men and turn upside down so legs at the top.  Ice with chocolate icing or melted chocolate.  Put  a rasberry lolly as the nose in the head area and 2 white choc melts above with a chocolate drop stuck to white chocolate melts with melted chocolate for the eyes.

Christmas Truffles - Idea from current Countdown Indulge Magazine

Makes 20

16 Homebrand milk arrowroot biscuits, coarsley broken
1/4 cup Homebrand dried apricots, finely chopped
375 grams Packet White Chocolate Melts
2/3 cup Homebrand condenced milk
85g Homebrand strawberry Jelly Crystals
85g Homebrand lime Jelly Crystals

Line a baking tray with baking paper.  Use a rolling pin or a food processor to finely crush the biscuits.  Transfer to a large bowl.  Stir in the apricot.

Stir 1/2 cup of chocolate melts and the condenced milk in a small saucepan over low heat for 3-4 mins or until melted and smooth.  Add to the biscuit mixture and stir until well combined.

Roll 2 tsp portions of mixture into balls.  Place on the prepared tray in the fridge for 10 minutes until firm.

Place the strawberry and lime jelly crystals in two small bowls.  Melt the remaining melts following packet ingredients.

Use a Fork to dip one truffle in melted chocolate.  Tap fork on the edge of a bowl to allow excess chocolate to drop off.  Return to the prepared tray and sprinkle with jelly crystals.  Repeat with the remaining truffles, chocolate and jelly crystals.  Set aside until set.


Gift Chocolates - idea from current Countdown Indulge Magazine

200g white chocolate melts
1/4 cup thickened cream
20g Homebrand butter, chopped
1 cup Homebrand rice bubbles
1/2 cup Homebrand desiccated coconut
50g Homebrand red glace cherries, coarsley chopped.
Homebrand desiccated coconut (extra), icing sugar and or cocoa powder to decorate

Place chocolate, cream and butter in a microwave-safe bowl.  Cook on high for 1 1/2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and smooth.

Add rice bubbles, coconut and cherries and stir until well combined.  Chill until firm.

Divide mixture into four parts and roll into logs.  Place on a sheet of baking paper.  Cut into 1 cm thick slices (makes about 80).  Create different flavours by rolling in either cocoa, icing sugar or coconut.  Chill.

Raspberry Tarts - Idea from Coundowns Current Indulge Magazine

Makes 22

2 cups Homebrand plain flour
1/4 cup Homebrand icing sugar
150g chilled Homebrand butter, chopped
1 egg yolk
2 Tbsp water
1/4 cup Homebrand raspberry jam
1/2 cup frozen raspberries, thawed
1 Tbps Homebrand White Sugar

Preheat oven to 180C.  Place the flour, icing sugar and butter in the bowl of a food processor and process until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.  Add the egg yolk and water and process until dough just comes together.  Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth.

Heat the jam into a saucepan over med heat for 5 mins or until melted.  Place the thawed raspberries in a bowl and use a fork to coarsley mash.  Add to the jam and stir until combined.

Roll out pastry after being in fridge between 2 sheets of baking paper until 3 mm thick.  Use a 6.5cm round pastry cutter to cut 22 discs from the pastry.  Line 22 30ml patty pans.  Use a fork to prick the bases.

Roll out remaining pastry until 3mm thick.  use a 5cm cutt to cutt 22 stars.  Spoon jam mixture amoung pastry cases.  Top with stars and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake for 20-25 mins or until golden.  Set aside for 15 mins to cool.

This is just the first post of many with baking and Christmas goodies that i will be posting...

Daily December!

Back in 2007 Ali Edwards started doing a yearly Daily december album.  A Daily december is an album as simple or as big as you want it to be recording your daily actions during december.  Some people do it for the whole of December and some like I will be this year are doing 25 Days of Christmas.

Here is a link to Ali's Blog where she explains it more.

http://aliedwards.com/december-daily

Following are a few Daily December's that my friends have done.

Here is Rochelle Goodenough's from 2009 I love it

http://peonygrace.com/2009/11/

http://peonygrace.com/2009/12/12/december-daily-album-days-1-7/

Here is Tanya Watson's from 2010

Here is Tanya's base album for this coming December


The following is what my Daily December will be.  I am using a Fancy Pants Brag Book as my base with Simple Stories 25 Days of Christmas Patterned Paper.

Everyone please feel free if you have done Daily December in the past or are doing Daily December this year to post a link in the comments and i will share them with everyone.

This is just Post 1 for today.  Have a great one everyone.

Challenge to you all & Inspiration

Firstly I have a challenge to you all to Pay it Forward...I was very inspired a couple of weeks ago by the following Blog Post that Louise passed onto me...

http://mixmingleglow.com/blog/?p=1358

Robyn celebrated her 38th birthday by doing 38 random acts of kindness

I just love love love this idea.  I am going to do as my 25 Days of Christmas 25 different random acts of kindness and will share them all on here.

My challenge to you if you choose to accept it is to join me in doing your own random acts of kindness over christmas...It doesn't have to be 25 and they don't have to be big as you can see from Robyn's post..

You could
Open a door for someone
Let someone in front of the queue in front of you at the supermarket
Write a letter to a friend and mail it

You name it there are countless ways you could join in.

Inspiration - I have a pile of magazines and pages out of magazines and leaflets beside me here on my desk as the photo below shows and I am gathering anything and everything christmas to inspire me and I wish there were more hours in the day as I am getting so inspired and want to try everything.  I am also inspired by many many blogs at the moment as well...

What is inspiring you all?

Tomorrow i will be doing a post on Daily December Albums and what to expect in the coming weeks. 

If there is anyone out there that is still wanting to join our handmade gift/ornament swap please email me by 01 Decemember.

This weekend we will be starting to decorate the house by putting up our Christmas Tree.  Normally I leave til until 01 December but wanted it to be done over a weekend so we could all spend time doing it together.  I am going to bake some chocolate chip cookies and have some hot chocolate and marshmellows or iced chocolate if it's really hot.  I am making lists of how I want to decorate our house and where we want everything.

I want to hear about your Family Traditions and what you do and.or want to do.  Are you introducing any new traditions this year.

I have sent off the first of the "Handmade & Heartfelt" envelopes so please let me know when they start to arrive.

You are all so amazing!

I just want to start off this Blog Post by saying how truley AMAZING each and everyone of you is!  I am so glad that you are all loving this blog and embracing a "Handmade & Heartfelt" Christmas and everyday way!

There are so awesome people and companies that I would truley love to thank for their wonderful and amazing "Handmade & Heartfelt Spirit that they are showing...I am sitting here in tears writing this...Don't worry they are Happy Tears.

Firstly to Adrienne at Scrappin Patch for her awesome donation, support and sponsorhip of amazing Christmas Product to help out with the Christmas Card Kits for Starship Childrens Hospital.  Adrienne you rock.  Adrienne, approached me via email wanting to help in any way that she could.  Thank you so much.
www. scrappinpatch.co.nz

Secondly Fiona and the Team at Bostick.  You are all truley awesome...From just a short email to them asking about a possible deal on how much I could pay for some more mini glue sticks for my Card Kits I received an email saying that wanted to donate 160 yes that's right 160 mini glue sticks...i received the awesome parcel today and included were some awesome Blu Tack products which I know will come in really useful with the play room and for all the kids to display their cards...

Here is the amazing product from Bostik.

Thirdly this is a huge thank thank you to 2 amazing woman out there...Ali Exebly and Sandra Mason for spending hours I am sure stamping and punching and die cutting images for me for the christmas card kits...You are both awesome and as I have both said to you Awesome Karma is on it's way to you!

Are you ready for this it's only 33 days until christmas.....How are you all going?  I am in the process of making my christmas planner whcih I am looking forward to as i have piles of paper pads and loose papers of notes.....Will upload a photo when it's finished...

Just over a week and then it's 01 December oh my goodness where's this month going?  I know things are going to keep getting busier and busier.

I am sorry for the delay.  The first 7 "Handmade & Heartfelt" Thank you goodies are being mailed out tomorrow.  I am still waiting on quiet a few addresses...they are all packaged up waiting to go...I hope you all like them....

Just before i head off tonight I found this awesome idea that Tori Spelling did decorating a Mason Jar with Lace and using it as Tea Light Candle Holder - I love it

http://www.torispelling.com/post/how-to-lacey-mason-jars

While you are their have a look at Tori's awessome new site ediTORIal by Tori Spelling there are some great ideas on there.

Here are also 2 goodies that I have been praticing on and will be giving out as gifts.

Whoopie Pies - will do them as Peppermint and might roll the in crushed candy canes as well to cover what you can see of the green/blue

and my all time favourite Cinnamon Rolls

I will be back tomorrow with some further ideas and updates...

Handmade & Heartfelt Kits, Orgazination etc!

I am finally starting to get better but just wanted to check in and say I will be taking the rest off the weekend off blog writing and will be posting a huge post with photos and updates galore and a challenge...

I am going to take the weekend to try and get rid of this cold what ever it is and finally finish off some goodies i have been working on.

If you haven't or need to re email me your address for your "Handmade & Heartfelt" kit I have 20 Kraft Envelopes sitting here waiting to mail out with some christmas craft goodness in them waiting for a new home...email is debbie.blincoe@vodafone.co.nz

I will also be announcing the swap match ups 01 December...How is everyone getting on with their handmade gift or decoration?

Also Jessica Sprague is offering an awesome free Holiday Class online

http://www.jessicasprague.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3627%3Afree-holiday-class-2011&catid=1

Take care everyone and sorry there won't be another post till monday I just need to get rid of what ever it is that I have.

I hope you are all enjoying these posts.

Christmas in a Jar!

Firstly before I hit publish on this post I want to say a Huge Huge thank you to Pam and the team at Bostix who are donating 160 mini glue sticks for the Christmas Card Kits that I am making up for the kids at Start Ship.  You are all wonderful.



I know this is the post that lots of you have been waiting for and I will appologise in advance its a long one.  If there aren't photos for certain things please come

There are so many ways you can prepare Christmas in a Jar.  So many things you can fill these jars of Christmas goodness with.  I am going to share recipies for Cookies, Brownies, Hot Chocolate, Soup Mix, Scones, Pancakes, Spicy Rubs, Nuts etc

Here we go....

Honey Soy Nuts - Australian Woman's Weekly
Makes 3 1/2 Cups

1 1/4 cups (150 grams) Pecans
1 cup (150 grams) unsalted cashews
1 cup (150 grams) natural almonds
1/3 cup (60 grams) pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup (50 grams) sunflower seeds
1 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 Tbsp nigella seeds
1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup (90 grams) honey
2 tbsp sunflower oil
1 tbsp soy sauce

Pre heat the oven to 180C or 160C fan forced.  Line a large oven tray with baking paper
Combine nuts, seeds, rosemary and peppers in a large heatproof bowl.
Place the honey, oil and sauce sauce in a saucepan, stir over a low heat until honey is liquid.  Pour honey mixture over nut mixutre.  Stir to combine.
Spread nut mixture on prepared tray.  Bake for about 15 mins or until the nuts are golden and fragrant.  Cool.  Transfer nuts to Jars.  Depending on how many jars you want I would do a double or even triple mix of this.

Flavoured Salts - Australian Woman's Weekly

I most def want to make these up....

Lemon and Chilli Salt
This takes a plain chicken breast or roast chicken to another level

2 lemons
1 cup (125g) sea salt flakes
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp chilli flakes

Remove rind from lemons with zester Or peel lemons thinly with a vegetable peeler avoiding the white pith.  Cut rind into thin strips.
Combine rind with salt and oregano in a med frying pan.  Stir over a low heat for about 3 mins or until the rid is dry.
Remove from the heat and stir in the chilli.  Cool then put into gift jars.

Rosemary & Cumin Salt
This is perfect with lamb

1 cup (125g) sea salt flakes
1 tbsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 tsp cumin seeds
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a med frying pan.  Stir over a low heat for about 3 mins or until the salt/ cumin is fragrant.
Remove from the heat.  Cool and then put into gift jars

Orange & Fennel Salt
This is delicious with grilled or roast portk

1 orange
1 cup (125g) sea salt flakes
2 tsp fennel seeds
1/2 tsp ground white pepper

Remove rind from lemons with zester Or peel lemons thinly with a vegetable peeler avoiding the white pith.  Cut rind into thin strips.
Combine rind with remaining ingredients in a med frying pan. Stir over a low heat for about 3 mins or until the rind is dry.
Remove from the heat, cool and put into gift jars.


Hot Chocolate Mix

6 cups non fat Milk Powder
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup plus 2 tbps Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 cups Marshmellows

Mix all together in a large bowl and then devide up into jars.  I would use maybe 1 or 2 cup size jars.

Measure 1/2 cup cocoa mix into mug. Stir in 1 cup hot water or milk. Makes 4 servings.

Variation that I am working on is adding to this is 1 or 2 everyday size (not the big size) bags of crushed malteesers to the mix.


Double Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix - http://www.theyummylife.com/

ngredients

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa (Dutch-process recommended)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 3 cups nonfat dry milk powder
• 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Add sugar and cocoa to food processor. Pulse until well-mixed. (Or, combine ingredients in large bowl and whisk until well mixed.) Add salt, cornstarch, and cayenne; pulse until mixed. Add powdered milk; process for 20-30 seconds until well mixed. Transfer mix to bowl and stir in chocolate chips. Store in airtight container.

Makes 6 cups

Go to this page on their blog for label printouts etc

http://www.theyummylife.com/blog/2010/12/111/Double+Chocolate+Hot+Cocoa+Mix--With+Gift+Jar+Tags




Quick Mix Brownies - taste.com.au

1 1/2 cups plain flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted

1 1/2 cups caster sugar

2 cups dark choc bits

1 cup vanilla and strawberry mini marshmallows

Sift flour and baking powder into a bowl. Spoon mixture into jar. Top with cocoa and then sugar. Top with choc bits, then marshmallows. Seal jar

Make a label with the following ingrdients and method

200g butter, chopped

3 eggs, lightly beaten

Vanilla ice-cream and strawberries, to serve

1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease a 3cm-deep, 20cm x 30cm (base) lamington pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, allowing a 2cm overhang at long ends.
2. Place butter in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, for 1 to 2 minutes on medium (50%) or until butter has melted. Set aside for 15 minutes to cool.
3. Add eggs to butter. Stir to combine. Slowly add ingredients from jar. Stir to combine. Spread mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out with crumbs clinging. Set aside to cool.
4. Cut into squares. Serve with ice-cream and strawberries.

Abbey's cookies in a Jar

3/4 cup (110g) plain flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup (75g) firmly packed brown sugar

1/3 cup (75g) caster sugar

3/4 cup (65g) rolled oats

100g craisins (dried cranberries), see variation

130g white chocolate chips

Sift flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl. Spoon the flour mixture into a 1L (4-cup) capacity glass jar. Top with brown sugar, then caster sugar. Top with oats, then craisins, then chocolate chips. Seal jar

Go this aweosme link on http://www.taste.com.au/ to print out label and insturctions

http://www.taste.com.au/agtdownloads/282.pdf

The following 2 recipies are from - http://www.christmas-cookies.com/


Gingerbread Cookies in a Jar

1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 gingerbread boy-shaped cookie cutter

Use a clean 1 quart jar and press each layer down firmly. Put in half of the flour along with the baking powder and baking soda. Add the spices and the remaining flour. Add the brown sugar last. Tie a ribbon around the top of the jar and attach the cookie cutter and the directions below.

Attach these directions to the jar:
Gingerbread Cookies
Empty jar of cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly. Mix in 1/2 cup softened butter, 3/4 cup molasses and 1 egg. Mix until completely blended. Cover and refrigerate 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thick on a lightly floured surface. Cut into shapes. Place cookies on lightly greased cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake 10 to 15 minutes. Decorate with icing.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies in Jar

Makes about 30

3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
8 peanut butter cup candies (eg. Reese's) cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Mix together the flour, baking powder and baking soda. Set aside. Layer ingredients in order given in a 1 quart "wide mouth" canning jar.
Press each layer firmly in place. It will be a tight fit. Add chopped peanut butter cups last.

Attach these directions to jar:

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

1. Remove peanut butter cups from jar. Set aside.

2. Empty remaining cookie mix into large mixing bowl. Use your hands to throughly blend mix.

3. Add 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened at room temperature. DO NOT USE DIET MARGARINE. Add in 1 egg, slightly beaten, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

4. Mix until completely blended. You will need to finish mixing with your hands.

5. Mix in peanut butter cups.

6. Shape into walnut sized balls. Place 2 inches apart on greased cookie sheets.

7. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 12 to 14 minutes until edges are lightly browned. Cool 5 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to racks to finish cooling.

Makes 2 1/2 dozen cookies.

Enjoy everyone...Over the weekend i will be posting a few more including a few spice rubs, a tea blend and a couple of other things....

Christmas Gifts - Part 2 plus fun finds!

Hi Everyone,

Here are some more christmas gift ideas and some possible crafts you could get the kids to do...The following are from one of my fav blogs that I have mentioned before called Eighteen25

Firstly here is an awesome Christmas Planner that Eighteen 25 have free downloads and instructions for.

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/11/2011-christmas-planners.html

The following are some other Christmas ideas from Eighteen25 that I love and the links to them on their blog.

The following  pics are from this post of theirs http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/12/baking-day-recipes-and-christmas-tag.html

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/12/sugarplums.html

I love the following yarn ideas and I am going to do this with Papermache objects I have around the house and will show you when finished.  Great way to colour co-ordinate your themes.

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/12/fun-with-yarn.html

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/12/subway-art-update.html

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/12/hand-print-snowman-ornaments.html

Another awesome blog I have found is

http://www.iheartnaptime.net/

Lots of amazing ideas and links on this blog.

Tomorrow I will be sharing some of my Cookie/Baking in a jar recipies that I love.

Enjoy everyone...I hope you are still enjoying everything i am sharing.

Changing something everyday into a Handmade & Heartfelt Gift!

A great way to make gifts or part of gifts for Christmas or other occassions is to reinvent and change something everyday into a Handmade & Heartfelt Gift.

Here are a few things that i will be re-inventing. 

These mini chip containers I will be wrapping Paterned Paper and emblishmentsaround and filling with goodies.

These awesome oval tissues containers/boxes I picked up 2 for $5.00 and will wrap patterned paper around with embelishments and personalise them for others.

You can also get these tall round tubes as well.

Tanay has changed these cool little mini m&m containers into awesome little treats gifts.

http://angelstimestwo.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/mini-mm-tubes/

I have seen people use Smint Tins, Milo Tins, anything really that you can decorate and re-use would be great.  Sorry for the short post and understanding about me not being well.  Another post of Christmas Gift Ideas 2 will be up latter today.

If you have changed something everyday into a handmade and heartfelt gift please share a link.

Teacher Gifts

It’s always wonderful to find a special way to say thank you for all the hard work that teachers, teacher’s aids and everyone that help and teach our children every year.

We will be doing gifts for both David’s teacher’s he’s had this year (one is on maternity leave), his speech therapist, his teacher’s aid who does extra speech work with him…Also as we are at a small country school we will be giving a small gift to each teacher.  We have 5 class rooms plus Linda in the library, Lyn our Principal and Shana in the office.

The following are a mix of ideas I have found and also what we are doing…

I got the following cups from Spotlight for $3.00 each and will fill them with candy, or mini cookies, or marshmallows and wrap the entire mug in cellophane.

Photo to come.

Apple Shaped Chipboard Mini Book.

This is what we are giving David’s teacher who is on Maternity leave.

 Crayon Decorated Frame or mini black/chalk board would also be cool

Another few ideas I have thought of are

These are off the Eighteen 25 Blog http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/

This is what I am doing with the Craft box I showed the other day but with the particular teacher's name on it and a mixture of goodies.

Apple Ornament painted and kindy glitzed up or even those Artificial Apples with the same treatment

Bouquet of Toffee Apples or even a little pot with Styrofoam in it with a Toffee Apple

Home made bath salts, body scrub or cream

Cookie box

Coffee mug with coffee sachets

Decorated Journal or Diary

Alterted pack of playing cards which apple motifs on the back.  The following inspired that idea.

On Beth Proudfoot's Blog    http://bethproudfoot.blogspot.com/ these awesome tags which she has printables for.  Beth's blog always brings me lots of inspiration.

A Teacher's Survival Kit, here are some ideas.

http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/classmanagement/survivalkit.html

A very special gift that we are giving or sending away is a little video/DVD of David talking and reading.  This is going to go all the way to the UK where our amazing first ever SLT moved back to with her fiancé.  She took David on at 2 ½ years old and our first goal with him was to get him to say more words and for a 2 word sentence…now those of you that know David now know that he loves talking now.  We had her from May 2009 until Christmas 2009.  It has always been my dream to let her know how well he is doing…She helped so much in those first 7 or 8 months.

Here is a link to some Teacher's Poems

http://www.dltk-kids.com/school/poems_for_teachers.htm

Please feel free to share your Teacher Gift ideas with everyone.  Or if you are a teacher what are the best presents/gifts that you have ever received?

Have a think if you have heard that there is anything in particular that your child’s teacher loves.

Let me know what you all think!