Andrea's Gooey Caramel Popcorn

1 cup (2 sticks) butter

1/2 cup corn syrup

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 large bowl popcorn- with the un-popped kernels removed

In a medium saucepan combine butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar. Cook over medium high heat, stirring constantly until mixture comes to a boil. If you have a candy thermometer, heat caramel to softball stage. Otherwise, just allow the caramel to boil for about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over popcorn and stir to coat.

This popcorn is best warm, but saves well and is a favorite treat for family night, parties, and for our family trip to the beach every year!

Broken Glass Jello

My daughter and I made a few red, white and blue food items to celebrate the 4th of July last week. I came across this recipe from www.recipeboy.com You could use any colors of Jello to suit your taste and purpose. While Jello is not my favorite, my kids just loved these!

1 (6 oz.) box red Jell-o gelatin (I used sugar-free Raspberry)

1 (6 oz.) box blue Jell-o gelatin (I used Berry Blue)

4 cups boiling water

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin (Such as Knox)

1/2 cup cold water

1 1/2 cups boiling water

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk (I used Fat-Free) 

1. In 2 separate (9 x 13") rectangular pans, sprinkle each box of Jell-o. Add 2 cups of boiling water to each pan. Stir until the gelatin dissolves. Put in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, or until firm. 
2. Spray a clean 9 x 13" pan with non-stick cooking spray. Cut each flavor of Jell-o into small blocks. Carefully mix the blocks of Jell-o in the prepared pan.
3. In a different bowl, sprinkle 2 pouches of unflavored gelatin into 1/2 cup cold water and stir to combine. Add 1 1/2 cups boiling water and mix until the gelatin dissolves. Add the can of sweetened condensed milk. Stir and cool.
4. Pour the milk mixture over the Jell-o blocks and stick it in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours (or overnight). 
5. Cut into squares or rectangles and serve. Makes about 28 servings.

Sand Art Brownies

 My oldest daughter made this brownie jar for Father's Day in her church Activity Days recently. We thought the gift of the beautiful jar was a cute idea, but then we made and tasted the brownies and... YUM! Recipe from Monica Torpy.

Layer in a large mason jar:

1. 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
2. 3/4 tsp. salt
3. 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
4. 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
5. 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
6. 2/3 cup white sugar
7. 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
8. 1/2 cup white (vanilla) baking chips

Directions to make brownies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175° C). Grease a 9 x 9" square baking dish. Pour the contents of the jar into a large bowl and mix well. Stir in:

1. 1 tsp. vanilla
2. 2/3 cup vegetable oil
3. 3 eggs

Mix until just combined, then pour into prepared pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until center is set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs. Serves 12.

Candy Bar Bunnies

I made these wrapped candy bars for the kids in my Primary class for Easter Sunday. I'm sure they'll arrive at church all hopped up on candy already, but I thought these were really cute. Idea from Martha Stewart's website...

You'll need:

• Full-size candy bar(s)
• 8 1/2 x 11" white paper
• Clear tape, scissors
• Acrylic paint or ink pads
• Permanent black marker

Cut paper in half to make a 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" sheet. Wrap the candy bar like a present using clear tape. Cut out bunny ears out of white paper and tape to the back of the wrapped candy bar. Press your pinky finger into a little acrylic paint or an ink pad and make circular eyes and nose on the front of the wrapped candy bar. Let the paint or ink dry completely, then draw on pupils, mouth and whiskers to complete the bunny face! 

April Fool's "Hamburger Cookies"

 Happy April Fool's Day! Practically every days feels like April Fool's at my home because my husband is such a joker. Let's just say that I've had cold water poured on me while I was showering several times! After school today the kids and I made these cute "Hamburger Cookies" that are actually sweet treats. You may not really fool anyone, but we think they are cute and funny and they taste good! Recipe from allrecipes.com.

24 vanilla wafer cookies

12 small peppermint patties

4-6 drops green food coloring

12 medium green gumdrops, sliced* 

2 Tbs. sesame seeds

4 small rolls of apricot fruit roll-ups -OR- 12 red Dots candies (optional)**

1/2 cup flaked coconut

1. Place the coconut and food coloring in a small bowl with a lid (I used plastic wrap over a small bowl). Shake until all the coconut is covered. Set aside.
2. Place 12 vanilla wafers flat side up on a plate. Unwrap 12 peppermint patties and place them on top of the wafers.
3. Unwrap the fruit roll-ups (optional) and cut into squares. Place on top of all of the patties to look like cheese. Place the sliced gumdrops, sticky side up, on top of that (or spread a little frosting). Add the coconut.
4. Place the other half of the wafers on top of the coconut. With a small pastry or paint brush, paint a VERY small amount of water on the tops of the cookies. Finally, shake or sprinkle a small amount of sesame seeds over the wafers.

NOTE: *I omitted the green gumdrops and used vanilla frosting instead (3 Tbs. softened butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar, a little vanilla and milk) to help the coconut stick.

**I also added a small dot of frosting on the bottom of the peppermint patty to help it stick together. Instead of the fruit roll-up, I used red Dots candy to make tomatoes. I cut each Dot into 3 slices with a serrated knife and placed 3 "tomatoes" on each.

Frosted Sugar Cookies

Okay, it's confession time... I almost always have fresh homemade cookies in our home. We grew up that way, I really love baking, and my kids love a homemade cookie in their lunches. Luckily, once they are cooled, I usually don't eat them, but I cannot refuse a cookie hot out of the oven! The one cookie that I consider a little more labor-intensive (but are irresistible when cooled and frosted) is the sugar cookie. We made some for Valentine's Day this week and had some fun experimented with different cookie and frosting recipes. After trying 2 new versions, I still love my Mom's recipe and this sugar cookie recipe I have in my recipe box that's written in my 5th grade handwriting (recipe below)! I still need to try Brooke's recipe. She's an amazing cook, so I'm sure they're fabulous!
*Click HERE for Brooke's Sugar Cookie recipe.
*Click HERE for my Mom's Sugar Cookie recipe.

Soft & Easy Sugar Cookies

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. almond extract

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cup cream, sour cream or buttermilk

3 Tbs. cornstarch

2 3/4- 3 cups flour

Cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, almond and vanilla extracts, salt and baking powder and mix until well combined. With mixer on low, add the cream and mix well. Add the cornstarch and half of the flour. Add remaining flour a little at a time until you reach the right consistency, mixing until just combined. 

Divide dough into 2 balls. Place a sheet of parchment or waxed paper on a cookie sheet and flour a rolling pin. Roll dough out to desired thickness, then add another sheet of parchment or waxed paper on top. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Remove from fridge and remove top sheet of parchment or waxed paper and cut into shapes! This saves you from a flour-y mess! (You can also chill dough, then roll out and cut into shapes on a floured surface.)

Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350° F. for 7-10 minutes at , or until set but not browned. Cool for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

---------->What to frost them with???

• Click HERE for our Mom's frosting recipe (I use almond in place of lemon for these cookies)
• Click HERE for Frosting recipe from Keeping Up Cookbook
• Click HERE for Vanilla or Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe

Chocolate-Dipped Fortune Cookies

Did you know that Valentine's Day is also Chinese New Year this year? We attended a fabulous Chinese New Year party last weekend with some friends and I made these easy and fun Chocolate-Dipped Fortune Cookies. My kids had fun helping me dip and decorate them. Happy Valentine's and Happy year of the Rabbit!

Ingredients:

     Packaged fortune cookies (each box has about 12 cookies)

     Candy Melts chocolate discs in various colors

     Sprinkles, Non-pareils, colored sugar, etc... 

1. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Melt the chocolate in small bowls in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring until smooth. Dip the rounded side of the fortune cookies and shake off excess. 
3. Place on parchment paper and immediately decorate with sprinkles.
4. Let sit at room temperature until chocolate is set.   

Flubber for kids!

My kids have made this at their last 2 schools for science when learning about polymers.  The word polymer comes from the Greek language from poly “many” and meros “parts." Polymers are large molecules consisting of repeating identical structural units connected by chemical bonds. I just learned something, did you?!? Last week, my daughter and her friend wanted to make Flubber, so I thought I'd share the recipe here! It bounces, it rolls, it stretches and they think it's more fun than play dough!

In a small bowl, mix:

       3/4 cup warm water

       1 cup Elmer's glue

       Food coloring, if desired (I omit)

In a large bowl, mix:

       2 tsp. Borax (a laundry detergent 

additive you can find at the grocery 

store)

       1/2 cup warm water

Pour glue mixture into Borax mixture and mix with your hands or stir well with a wooden spoon.

Storage and safety guidelines:

Store Flubber in an airtight container or plastic bag.  Flubber is non-edible and good for kids that don't still like to eat glue! When you are through with it, throw it away in the trash. Do not wash down the drain.