Need a recipe?

I was looking for a caramel corn recipe that I love. I didn't have it in the limited stash that I brought with me, my Mom couldn't find it, and my sister was in her car when I phoned and couldn't help me. But my sister suggested looking up the recipe on the Internet. As always, Google did not let me down and I found the recipe plus a great Web site.

If you're hunting for a recipe, I highly recommend Cooks.com It has a robust search engine and about any recipe you can imagine. I found my caramel corn recipe in under 1 min. (and several variations on it).

By the way, here's the recipe. It is a little time consuming, but produces caramel corn just like you'll get from a popcorn store.

Caramel Corn

1 c. butter

2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. light corn syrup

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. vanilla

6 qts. popped popcorn
1-20 oz. bag salted peanuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Grease two large, shallow baking pans. Remove unpopped kernels from popped popcorn. In a saucepan, melt butter over low to medium heat. Add brown sugar and corn syrup. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly. Lower heat, and gently boil for 5 minutes, continuing to stir. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla, salt and soda.

Mix caramel sauce and popcorn (and peanuts-if desired) together. Spread coated popcorn evenly in the two pans. Bake for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Cool and break caramel corn apart before serving.

Fleece is available in a vast array of patterns. From SpongeBob to military insignias, there is sure to be a pattern to suit your tastes or decor.

Warm Up

Since I've been down from recent surgeries, I've had time to do a little "crafting." My recent projects have been those wonderfully warm fleece blankets.

The fleece is readily available at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby or any fabric store. It comes in a wide array of patterns from kittens and rainbows to Spiderman and Care Bears, there's likely a pattern or style to match your taste.

The blankets are a snap to finish, and you don't necesarrily have to sew to complete one. Whatever method you choose, you need to finish the perimeter of the blanket. You have a variety of ways to accomplish this task.

Machine Finishing

I've made these blankets for the children previously, using the blanket or zigzag stitch on my sewing machine to finish the edge. This takes less than 30 min. and you have a warm fuzzy for the kids. You could also serge the edge if you have the technology.

You can also sew 2 panels together for a doubly thick blanket. Usually, I just do a single weight as it doesn't get that cold here, but in northern climates, double up for extra warmth.

Hand Finishing

My latest blankets have been hand finished. Since I'm not feeling well enough to sit for long periods at the sewing machine, I've been blanket stitching the edges with yarn. I use standard weight yarn, a yarn darning needle and a skewer (for punching holes). You can finish a standard sized panel in 3-4 hours. (A rental movie helps pass the time)

Here's how to do a blanket stitch:

Blanket stitch is worked from left to right. The needle is brought up vertically and brought out of the fabric with the thread tucked under the needle. (See posted diagram below)

If you don't like sore fingers, then you'll want to prepunch hole for your need to pass through. I found a metal shish-ka-bob skewer works great for this purpose.

At the corners work several stitches in a fan shape from a single hole opposite the corner. That will reinforce and provide a nice corner finish.


No-sew option

Had needles and machines? You still can finish a fleece blanket with hand-tied fringe. Create a template of cardboard that is 18-24 inches long, four inches deep and has 1-inch marks on it. Use the template to mark your blanket edge (use one of those disappearing fabric markers to mark the blanket). Draw a line 4 inches deep on your blanket. Then mark the 1-inch widths. Cut the 1-inch strips to the 4" depth you marked. Once you cut the fringe, tie a slip knot at the base of each strip (You can make it longer or thinner--this is just a suggestion based on my attention span. Thinner strips look nice, but it means more tying.) Continuing knotting all the strips until finished.

When finished, find a loved one, drape and snuggle!

This is a diagram of the blanket stitch. You can use this stitch to hand finish fleece blankets. 

Products we love - April

Each month, I'll let you know about products that we've tried and love. These are our own endorsements and have not been paid in any way by a sponsor. They are my and my family's opinions. If you do or don't agree, feel free to add you comments to the post.

Here are two of our latest favorites:

Philly Swirl Stix

These Italian ice pops (they also come in cups) are wonderful and my kids love them. They have only 48 calories a bar and the come in kid (and adult) friendly flavors. They have a new sugar-free variety at Sam's Clubs that I also would like to try.

The company is small and super friendly. I emailed them and received a personalized response which is a rarity in today's mega-corporation environment. So not only is it a tasty, low-cal snack, but a nice bunch of people to do business with.

Here's the link to their Website: Philly Swirls

Dr. Scholl's Odor Destroyer Spray

I admit it. I have very stinky feet. Add a pair of nylon hosiery and you better pray my shoes can contain the stench.

Actually, I had stinky feet, until I found the newest Dr. Scholl's spray. This stuff actually works, and believe me I've tried them all. I finally can take off my shoes without clearing the room.

Since using this product daily, I have completely eliminated my foot and shoe odor problem. So if you share the stench, try out Odor Destroyers.

Let me know if you found these product reviews useful. I'll post some monthly (or more often if you like them).

Shop 'till ya drop!

No More Store Squabbles

I've only had a couple of great parenting revelations, but here is one of them.

I hate children who whine for items in the store. I've seen children cry, plead, throw tantrums, much to everyone's dismay. None of my children have ever done this due to one simple rule:

If you ask for it, I won't buy it.

Notice the period at the end of the rule. It is critical that nothing else is added. You have to be firm and unbending on this rule. If they ask for milk and it is on your list--you cannot for any reason buy it.

The result of firm adherance to this rule is that your children will not ask for anything in a store. If you have more than one child, there will be sibling pressure to keep them from asking. If they start, all you have to say is "You're asking, so I can't buy it." Always let them know if you had been planning a special treat and they blew it by asking.

For all of our peace when shopping, please use this rule with your own children.

Also, don't take small children to the store after 9 pm, late in the afternoon or anytime when you or the child is tired. You're just asking for trouble.

Go enjoy some peaceful shopping!

The most beautiful bouquets are those picked by a child. I've had three dandelion bouquets this week and they touch my heart more than a dozen roses (of course one would have to receive flowers to have a real point of reference!)  

Being fresh is OK

Being fresh with a co-worker, especially of the opposite sex, might not be OK; but being fresh in the kitchen is definitely OK. Here's some stay fresh tips for various snack foods:

Cereal
My kids love cereal--that is, they love to open cereal but never finish it. Ziploc bags are my best friend. Pull out the cereal bag, push in a new zipper bag (I prefer the zipper Ziplocs) into the empty box and fill it with the cereal, zipping it shut for freshness. Why bother putting the cereal back in the box? The box is what attracts the kids to the cereal, so if you just put the cereal in the Ziploc bag, they won't eat it! It's kid logic, don't try to figure it out.

Potato Chips
Those chip clips really work, but who can ever find one? I'm always left "holding the bag" without a clip. Binder clips, paper clips and clothespins will work just as well as the bag clips, and I generally can find these easier. Kids (or grownups) open up two bags without finishing one? Go ahead and combine them into one. You'll have better luck getting the single bag rather than the two separate bags finished before going stale. Again this is kid logic, so don't even try to understand it.

Marshmallows
Just give up on trying to keep these fresh even with a clip in the original bag. Putting the original, opened bag in a Ziploc and pressing out the excess air seems to work best. You can freeze marshmallows, but I think they lose some flavor and texture when frozen. They can be stored in plastic containers, but the double bagging with a Ziploc is my preferred method.

Saltine crackers
I love my cracker tin. I think it works better than any other solution and keeps the crackers from breaking. I use the original packaging and just use a twist tie to seal the opened package. My tin holds all four packages from the original box. I don't know of any new sources for tins, but you can located vintage ones on eBay for under $5.

Popcorn
The moisture content of popcorn is critical for proper popping. The moisture content is a closely guarded trade secret because it is so important. The best popping corn is undoubtedly Orville Redenbachers, but a lot of it is the packaging. How is it packaged? In a sealed bottle. That's what you need to do, keep your popcorn sealed and at room temp (don't put it in the fridge as that can mess up the moisture content). A clean, dried glass jar with a good lid will work just fine for keeping your popcorn at its freshest.

Happy snacking!

Fluffy Omelets

I've made fluffy omelets, but they are just too much work. You have to separate the eggs, beat the whites until stiff, beat the yolks until thick and then fold them all together. Not being a morning person, this is not a process I'm capable of before 11 a.m.

So how can you get fluffy omelets without all the hassle?

A pinch of baking powder.

I saw the tip in Woman's World magazine, and thought I'd give it a try. Sure enough, the eggs puff right up. When you take them from the heat, eat fast as the fluffiness is short lived, but every bit as light at the well-beaten variety.

Have only 2 minutes for breakfast but want an omelet? I recommend the Schwan's omelets. They are tasty and cook up in about 2 min. in the microwave. Not as good as a fresh one, but a close second.

Bon apetit!

Easter Ham Leftovers?

This week we've been trying to use up all the leftovers from the meal for 20 that I fixed for the five of us. I dredged up an old recipe (courtesy of a couple of phone calls to Mom), made some variations and came up with the following. Total prep time is under 10 min.

Leftover Hoagies

Hoagie Roll (sliced in half lengthwise)
Garlic Butter (mix 1/4 tsp. {or more to taste} garlic powder in 1/4 c. whipped margarine)
2 slices of leftover Easter ham
3 slices of Genoa salami
2 slices of provolone or swiss cheese

Spread garlic butter on one side of hoagie roll. Place ham and salami on roll and top with cheese slices. Top with remaining roll and put two toothpicks in to hold sandwich together. Bake at 450 degrees for 7 min. Serve hot.