By Carrie Roush Nicholas on Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 7:05am
GIFT IDEAS With new diseases appearing each day, it's important to keep your child's hands clean and germ free. As a parent, you want to do everything possible to ensure your child stays healthy, especially when a contagious virus spreads. With the most recent outbreaks of the Swine Flu virus, you may be rushing to the store to stock up on hand sanitizer. Instead, try this activity where you'll make your very own personal sanitizer! It's easy enough for your child to help you with, which means she'll be more willing to use it and remain healthy. What You Need: 1/3 cup of aloe Vera gel 2/3 cup of 99% rubbing alcohol 8-10 drops of essential oil (such as vanilla, lavender, grapefruit, peppermint, etc.) One small mixing bowl and spoon Recycled liquid soap bottle Funnel Monday, May 3, 2010 Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub {for Mom} We all have them {well at least I do}; poor, exhausted, DIY doing, spray painting extraordinaire, crafters hands. I have been using this simple mix for a few years and it is the best recipe to rejuvenate your skin and bring your fingertips back to life. The sugar is an excellent exfoliate to remove the craft leftovers from your nail beds and cuticles too! It takes only minutes to mix and you most likely have all the necessary ingredients sitting right in your pantry. Packaged up just right this makes another inexpensive Mother's Day gift; a perfect addition to tuck in a little gift basket. Begin my mixing 2 1/2 Cups of Sugar with 1 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Add in 4 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice {or scented essential oils to your liking}. This mixture will make enough to fill a 12oz. Mason Jar {and you'll have just enough left over to clean your hands afterwards too} Mix really well until a gritty paste forms and spoon into a glass container. {make sure your container has a lid that seals} I have to say I love this mix and use it all the time. After sitting for awhile you may need to mix prior to using as the sugar may settle. A tiny bit is all you need and it leaves your skin extra soft and smooth. {plus not to mention it scrubs away all craft evidence so my hands do not look like a mechanics out in public}Enjoy! Once we got home and I put the kids down for their nap (thank you, God, for naps!), I got to work on my pine cone scenting project. First, I washed them off in the sink. I was afraid I woke the kids up when I shouted "EEWWWW!" as bugs came crawling out of the wet pine cones, but thankfully they managed the sleep through my shrieking :) Then I laid them out on a foil-lined pan and baked them at 200 degrees. This ensures all of the bugs die and melts the sap. I baked them until they opened up, which took about 45 minutes. They looked like this once they were done. See how it opened up? Then I placed the pine cones in a plastic bag, added several drops of cinnamon essential oil, sealed it up and shook it to distribute the oil. I read that you should keep it sealed for 2-7 days. Since I am impatient, I waited the minimum amount and opened it after 2 days. If you don't have any essential oil at home, you can try this method after baking them: Spread your pine cones out on layers of newspaper. Use a foam brush to apply glue. Mix cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg in baggie. Add pinecones in spice mix. Shake to cover. Allow to dry overnight. They smell absolutely delightful. There's something about the scent of cinnamon that makes me feel so cozy and happy to be home. I put some in a wire basket (I couldn't resist throwing in a starfish!) in the entryway so that all who enter are given a fragrant cinnamon greeting. And I put the rest in a hurricane jar that sits atop the mantle. I saw a small bag of cinnamon scented pine cones at the craft store yesterday for $5.00. They looked and smelled just like the ones I had just made! Rolo TURTLES. (Not the bastard holiday M&M kind) I make rolo turtle candies every year. They're a favorite with our peeps and they are SUPER easy to make. There is also a bastardized version made with a holiday m&m, but if I ditched the pecans, I'd have an angry mob on my hands. So without further ado, here is the recipe. 1. Put the pretzels on a baking sheet, you can line with parchment if you want, but I don't find it necessary usually. The key here is to put them pretty evenly spaced in rows, it will make the pecan step MUCH easier. You can use the circle pretzles, or the small twisty ones, but I prefer the snaps, it gives an even surface to place the rest of the stuff. 2. Then you will place one rolo candy on each pretzel. 3. Pop them in the oven at 350 (or around there) for 4-5 minutes. They will look shiny, but they will still look like a rolo, they shouldn't melt all over the place. 4. Take them out of the oven (get a helper for this part if you are doing a lot of them) and place a pecan on top of each rolo candy. Be careful not to burn yourself on the hot caramel or the sides of the baking sheet. 5. Then, gently push down squishing the rolo. You do need a light touch on this part because if you squish them too much the rolo gets everywhere and they're hard to remove from the pan when cooled. 6. Let them cool at room temp, then pop them in the fridge or freezer to cool completely. I store in the fridge to keep them longer, but remove them an hour or so before eating so the caramel softens up a bit. You can also store just in a covered tuperware container at room temp if you plan on eating them within a few days. Oh, and one last thing. A REALLY helpful hint. Buy the rolos at the checkout counter, not the bagged ones. I always forget and buy the bagged ones because we need so many of them, but then you spend more time unwrapping each one than you do putting the rest of them together. {Everything} In A Jar - Handmade Gifts With just a little over 10 weeks until Christmas, it is already time to start thinking about gifts! The more gifts that can be taken care of ahead of time, the easier the holiday season will be. I came up with a really fun idea that can be customized to pretty much any person or occasion called: {Everything} In A Jar Today, I am going to show you the ones I made for teachers! Teachers spend so much time at school so I tried to think of items that could be used at school. When I picked the supplies to stuff the jars, I tried to stick with a color scheme for each jar to make it look cuter. {energy} in a jar Peanuts White Chocolate Hot Drink Mix Suisse Mocha Latte Mix White Chcolate Macadamia Nut Energy Bar Milk Chocolate Truffles {pampering} in a jar Cozy Socks Sunshine Daisy Lotion Sunshine Daisy Fragrance Spray Moisture Rich Hand Creme Soothing Massage Bar Soap Eye Treatment Cream Facial Scrub Lip Balm {refreshment} in a jar Facial Cleaning Towelettes Wrinkle Release Spray Disposable Mini Toothbrushes Tide To Go Mini Pen Peppermint Gum Peppermint Altoids Mini Brush and Mirror Combo The first step for assembly is to stuff the goodies into the jars. This takes some planning and coordination. A long pencil can help with shuffling items around and getting them to fit. I designed some labels to print off and put on the jars. You can print these labels out, free of charge, if you would like to make your own jars. The first one is has the wording on the ovals and the second is blank so you can add whatever you want. I think I made the images large enough that you should just be able to print them from clicking on the image. My printer just ran out of ink so I can't test it but if it doesn't work just let me know and I can add a Google Doc or email you the file. ***update December 2011*** I am amazed at all of the support that has been shown for this post! Thank you everyone! I've heard from several people that they have had issues printing the labels so I am going to explain 2 ways to do it and again, if this doesn't work for you please contact me and I will email you the file: 1) Right click on the image above of the label you want and choose "Open Link In A New Window". It should open the labels in a new browser window. From that browser window, you can right click and choose "Save Image As" to save the labels to your computer. Then, just print them from your computer. 2) I have created a Google Doc for each of the label files so you can download and print them from there: {Everything} In A Jar ~ No Words Labels Okay, second issue...some people have had questions about how to add their own wording to the blank labels. Just download the file to your computer and then open it in a photo editing program and add the words. Picnik is a great FREE online photo editing program, if you do not have one to use already. I cut out the labels and using Elmer's CraftBond Glue Spots #GlueNGlitter in the thin small style, I attached the long strip to the back of the jar. Then, using more glue spots, I wrapped the strips around the jar. The 2 ends don't meet but that is okay because the oval will cover the opening. Using more of the glue spots, I attached the oval label. My kids like the {refreshment} in a jar the most and keep claiming it as the one they are going to give to their teacher! I told them we can buy more of the same stuff and make another jar! Here are some more fun ideas we came up with for jars: {tide me over} in a jar Beef Jerky Nuts Trail Mix Granola Bars Single Serving Drink Mix {first aid} in a jar Bandaids Tweezers Ibuprofen Ointment Gauze Hand Sanitizer Non Latex Gloves Antiseptic Wipes {s'mores} in a jar Marshmallows Chocolate Bars Graham Crackers {relaxation} in a jar Mini Candles Bath Salt Massage Oil Eye Mask {sewing} in a jar Mini Scissors Thread Thimble Buttons Seam Ripper Needles You get the idea! This gift can be for teens, moms, kids, friends or anyone else. Just customized the jar to the recipients tastes! It is fun to try to find mini items that will fit in the jars! This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Elmer's #gluenglitter #collectivebias #CBias but all ideas, pictures and opinions are my own! Meals in Jars Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (1 pint jar) -1 cup oatmeal -1 tsp cinnamon -1/4 cup sliced almonds -1/4 cup dehydrated apples *2 cups water necessary to reconsitute Vegetable Millet (1 pint jar) -1 cup millet -1/4 cup dehydrated mixed veggies -1/4 cup dried parsley -1 tsp dehydrated minced garlic -1 tsp salt *3 cups of water necessary to reconsitute Quinoa and Lentil Soup (1 quart jar) -1 ½ cup quinoa -1 ½ cup red lentils -1/2 cup dehydrated veggies -1/4 cup dehydrated onion -1 tsp minced garlic -1 tsp salt -2 bay leaves *5 cups of water necessary to reconsitute Lemon Dill Rice (1 pint jar) -1 cup rice -1/2 tsp dried dill -1 ½ tsp dehydrated lemon peel -1/2 tsp salt *2 cups of water necessary to reconsitute For each recipe, layer ingredients in order as listed. Use the size jar as indicated. Place an oxygen absorber on top and then close lid. Store jars in a safe place. Keep off shelves. Storage Tips -The best way to store beans, grains, and dehydrated veggies/fruit is in a sealed mylar bag along with oxygen absorbers. The individual meals could then be stored in a 5-gallon bucket. Lightweight, takes up less space, it’s just a much better option. So, I’ll continue saving for the supplies required for this system of storage. Holiday Gift Week – Soup in a Jar Beef Noodle Soup in a Jar Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes Mason Jars Ribbon Colored cloth/fabric Decorative paper for instructions ¼ cup red lentils ¼ cup green split peas ¼ cup barley 1/3 cup beef bouillon powder ¼ cup dried onion 2 T. parsley flakes 1/3 t. thyme 1/3 t. pepper 1 t. basil 1 t. garlic powder ½ t. celery seed S&P 3 cups tri color pasta, separated into colors. Layer ingredients neatly one by one into a large mason jar. Close jar tightly and cover with fabric. Tie with ribbons. Affix instructions: 1 jar holiday gift soup 1 22 ounce can crushed tomatoes 8 cups water Bring water and tomatoes to a boil in a large stock pot. Add soup mix. Simmer covered for 15 minutes, or until noodles are tender. Enjoy. Happy Holidays. Let the kids help you with writing the instructions and be sure to let them sign their names! DIY painted Mason jars & wine bottles 1 How to personalize jars & bottles If you're like me, your kitchen has no shortage of empty wine bottles and jam and Mason jars, waiting to be used or tossed into the recycling. Instead of having those bottles go to waste or letting those jars collect dust for months, upcycle them with brightly colored paints and use them as centerpieces, vases, or pencil or kitchen utensil holders. These beautiful jars and bottles not only make perfect additions to your home decor, they make great centerpieces for weddings, bridal showers and outdoor dinner parties. Plus you can completely customize the colors and finishes to match your style, theme and mood! This DIY tutorial features steps for spray paint and regular brush paint so you can change up the textures of each. What you'll need: Mason jars and dry, empty wine bottles Your choice of colored paint (spray, regular or both) Paint brush Cardboard or newspaper To spray paint: Step 1: Place jar/bottle lip side down Make sure your jars and bottles are completely empty and dry. Place them lip-side down on a piece of newspaper or cardboard, or on the ground. Step 2: Paint an even coat Standing a few steps back from the jar/bottle, spray paint the jar from top to bottom, so it covers evenly. (I used a can that had two times the coverage to reduce the number of coats I had to do.) I did two of the jars with different colors simultaneously so they would dry at the same pace. If you notice a bunch of air bubbles that aren't dripping off, point the spray paint can downward (starting at the top) and spray. This will push the air bubbles down to the bottom where they'll more easily drip off. Step 3: Touch up & let dry After the first coat has been applied, check to see if you've missed any spots. If so, spray over those, pointing downward, so the excess paint will drip off as it dries. Then place the jar/bottle in a dry spot so it can dry. The jars will take about two hours to dry to the point they can be briefly touched, but will not be fully dry for about 16 to 24 hours. Sweet DIY Votives Here’s what you’ll need: 1. Measure the height and circumference of your jar, and cut strips of fabric to roughly fit (approx. 1cm wide – doesn’t have to be perfect). 2. In your small cup, pour in some glue and dilute it with a bit of water (about 1:2), mix well. It should be the consistency of slightly thicker water.. yes, I know I’m being vague but it shouldn’t make much difference to the end result. 3. Submerge your first strip of fabric in the glue. Once soaked, lightly run your thumb and forefinger down the strip to get rid of any excess glue. 4. Place the strip into your jar (pattern side facing the jar) and position it. Use your paintbrush to push any air bubbles out from between the fabric and the jar. 5. Repeat with the rest of your fabric. Allow to dry overnight before using. Note: - It would be best to use battery operated tea lights instead of real candles - I find that it’s ok to have fabric going above the top of your jar because it can be easily cut off after it’s dried. - I don’t mind the look of the overlapping lines of fabric once the candle is lit, but if you do try not to overlap the strips in the gluing process. Easy Hurricanes This is one of those projects that a little bit goes a long way. A super simple way to light a walk way, dress up a porch or create a centerpiece at a holiday BBQ. Whatever you decide to use them for, these hurricanes couldn't be easier. I have a real sickness when it comes to glass jars. I refuse to throw them away and literally argue with my inner recycler over whether to throw that spaghetti sauce jar out or not, because I can use that for something. Like eventually all glass jars will be nonexistent, and the leaders of our country smile and nod at me because I've been saving all jars, bottles and containers....you know, because plastic has taken over the world or something like that. So from mayo jars to pickle jars, they get put in the garage until I find a use for them. Let the record show (and let my husband know too), that I have found a use for some of them. I used the large (restaurant size) pickle jar and mini flags. I found the flags at Target, 3/$1.00-that's the cheapest I've seen. Remove the label and clean the jar, soaking works best for me. Take the the flags off of the sticks. spray the back with spray adhesive and apply to jar. I just eye-balled it. To seal the flag, I put on a coat of Mod Podge, careful not to get any on the glass. I used two flags per jar, and that is it! I put a little sand in the bottom to hold a votive cup level and I lined them down the walkway. I took this at dusk, but you can barely see the flame.... So some evening shots are in order, although it's tough to get a good night shot. Aren't they festive? I like the simple look of them, but you could certainly embellish them more. Tie some jute or ribbon around the mouth of the jar, or if you are into the primitive look, coffee stain the flag first and then apply to the jar (after it's dry of course). Thanks for stopping by, I hope you're inspired! Silhouette Mason Jars What you'll need: - mason jars - paint (I got sample sizes at Home Depot of the Behr Coy Pink 140A-2 and Behr Botanical Tint 480A-2 ) - paint sponges and/or brushes - Avery sticker project paper - printer paper & double stick tape (if you don't have Avery sticker paper) - x-acto knife or scissors - multiple types of ribbon and lace for decorating - tags for labeling and decorating Instructions: Step 1: Figure out which images or text you plan on painting onto your mason jars and graphically arrange them on your computer using Illustrator, Photoshop, Microsoft Word, etc. Measure your mason jars and size your images/text accordingly. I tried to not exceed 2”-3” (length & width) but it all depends on the size of your mason jars and the look you want to achieve. Step 2: Print out your images/text onto Avery sticker project paper. If you don’t have this paper, you can print on regular printer paper and just double-stick tape the image to the jars. Cut out your images/text either as a silhouette or as a stencil. I used an x-acto knife because it works better with finer details but scissors would work also. Stick the image/text onto the jars. Step 3: Paint the mason jars and allow them to properly dry. I let them sit overnight. You may decide to paint a second coat. Step 4: Once the jars are completely dry, remove the stickers. If some of the paint has seeped in under the edges of the sticker and dried, just use the x-acto knife to scrape away at the paint. I had to clean up a few edges but the knife quickly does the job. Step 5: Adorn your jars with ribbons or lace. I added round tags for the names. You could accessorize your jars in numerous ways, in whatever colors or themes go with your event. GLASS JAR FRAMES What You’ll Need A clean, clear jar (free of labels) Photos Ruler X-acto knife or scissors Pencil (optional) Step 1: Measure how tall your jar is. If needed, trim the height of your photo to fit the jar (i.e. a 4″x6″ photo will be too tall to fit in a 3″ inch jar). Step 2: Roll up the photo slightly and slide it into the jar so that the photo will be right-side-up when the jar is upside-down. Poke it into place with your fingers or the eraser end of a pencil. Step 3: Turn the jar upside down and display your simple thrifty genius in a place of honor! Bottles: The Next Level Bottles work just as well as jars, but they’re a little trickier. The photo won’t be able to unroll any further than the narrowest part of the bottle. There two ways to deal with that: Pick a photo that looks good when it’s only an inch wide, or make your photo no taller than the widest part of the bottle. To use a bottle, roll up your photo tight enough to slip through the opening of the bottle. Slip the photo in right-side-up and maneuver it into place using the eraser end of a pencil. More Ideas If you have (or know somebody who has) a bottle cutter, try cutting a bottle in half and using the bottom half just like a jar. Mix different sizes of bottles and jars, and line your windowsill with them. Use beakers or test tubes to add for that “Mad Scientist” flair! Give the Gift of Calm : Mind Jar Printable We are blessed with a lovely speech therapist and other health professionals who are all so patient and brilliant in celebrating Georgie’s progress. I thought it might be a nice idea to share a Mind Jar with them, so I created a Mind Jar Printable that briefly explains what the Mind Jar is all about. I used a star-shaped holepunch to cut a little hole into the corner of the label so you can see the glitter through this,too! I made a few different colours, and I thought I’d share them with you , so if you know someone who might like (or need..) a Mind Jar, you can share it with them! Here are four different Mind Jar labels for you to print. Gel Air Freshener My mom is the crafting queen. My childhood was filled with tons of creativity. My mom has more imagination in her little finger then most people have in their whole body. Growing up we never threw away a cereal box, paper towel or toilet paper roll, anything with creative potential was saved. I am so happy to see my mom has not missed a beat when it comes to her grand kids. She has ideas saved up form newspaper articles, children's books, web sites, and from her memory. I have enjoyed seeing all the neat things my kids make after spending the afternoon with "Mimie". I had to share this one with you. As I will all the others in another post... All you need is: 2 Envelopes unflavored Gelatin 1tsp or more of some perfume or other fragrance 1/2 cup hot water 1/2 cup ice cold water Food coloring A small jar like a jelly or baby food jar Mix the gelatin and hot water in a bowl until the gelatin in dissolved. Stir in Fragrance and food coloring, then the ice water. let set in a cool place. ( do not put it in the frige) This smelled so good. You could cover it with some pretty fabric and tie it with a ribbon and it would be a nice gift your kids could make for family at Christmas. Hot Cocoa Snowman Gift What a INSPIRING Morning! I had my monthly MOPS(Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting this morning, and I just knew it was going to be fun...each table's assignment was to bring in an idea or actual item that was handmade to share with the group for Christmas gifting. OF COURSE, I was in seventh heaven! It was so neat to see not only are these women AMAZING Mommies...but SO Creative! I am inspired every time I log onto the blogging craft world, but to see it in person...well, let's just say, I'm almost tempt to start a Mommy Craft Group in my city. Who's with me? No, seriously....email me, we'll talk! And really quick, before I get to what I brought to share, I want to give a BIG 'OL WELCOME to my new readers that just learned I had a blog today....and all those that I just learned have been lurking around in the shadows. (every once in awhile, COMMENT! I'd love to know I'm not just talking to my mom myself) Alright, on with the show, man....Let's make a SNOWMAN! (hehe) 1. Start with a Half Pint Canning Jar. (these are the Better Homes & Gardens Brand from Wal-Mart...I love the top) 2. Fill it with Mini-Marshmallows 3. Make the Brim of the Hat using Black Paper or Fabric (it should be stiff though, so use Cardstock or Construction Paper or Felt) The most difficult part of this whole project...sizing the brim. Basically it's a circle with a center Circle cut out of the middle that just fits over the open rim of the jar but llisn't big enough that once you slip it over the, it will be flimsy. So just slightly small than the lid cover. Different jars will have different openings, so once you find that perfect balance, just use that as your pattern! 4. Cut a piece of black ribbon to wrap around the lid of the jar...to complete the top-hat look. 5. Give that man a face! I used Puffy Paints, but regular acrylic craft paint works too. 6. You can stop here if you'd like. And gift your little snowman with a couple bags of hot chocolate. Everything up to this step, including ALL materials cost me ~$2.50 per gift set to make 12. 7. Thanks to my new friend, Amy...there can be MORE to this Snowman...take another jar and fill it with Hot Cocoa Mix. (I didn't have a large jar, so I used the individual serving packets. It fits 5 servings) 8. Hot glue some buttons on it...and Hot Glue your Marshmallow Jar to the top of the Cocoa jar. 9. Use up some ribbon or Scrap Fabric for the scarf! (I just cut the ends for "fringe") ***EXTRA BONUS TIP: Amy also suggested adding a third jar to the bottom full of peppermint candies. Alas, there's no running to the store while I'm blogging during naptime, so you'll have to imagine it for me! GREAT GIFTS FOR TEACHERS, NEIGHBORS, HOST/HOSTESSES FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON! Halloween Mason Jar Lights Is it Halloween yet? It seems to always be right around the corner, no matter what month it is. Now, you can have a lot of fun making several lanterns for the occasion and impress everyone when you light them up that night! Consider what you can do with Christmas versions, and send in your pictures when you do! You will need: Mason jars of any size. Tissue paper. Mod Podge Paint Brush Glue Ribbon or paint for the tops. Start by cutting your tissue paper into strips about 1-2 inches wide. Brush a thin layer of mod podge on the glass jar and stick a strip of tissue to it. Take more mod podge and brush on top of it, sealing it onto the jar. Work one strip at a time until you cover the entire jar. I covered the bottom as well and on the top I went a little above the rim just to make sure there wasn’t any plain glass peeking through when I put a ribbon around the top. Place your jar upside down to dry. Keep working until you finish however many jars you’re going to do. As your jars are drying, work on your faces. Cut out faces from black paper and use a glue stick to glue them onto the jars. I waited until the jars were dry before gluing on the faces. I also tried attaching them just with mod podge and they didn’t stay. Look how cute! For the tops you can use paint to paint around the rims, or you can do what I did and attach a piece of ribbon. I love how they look in my windowsill; the sunlight coming through lights them right up! Then, at night, they turn into great little lanterns when you put a candle inside. I’ve seen people stuff a string of white Christmas lights inside as another option but I can’t resist the look of a flickering candle. The little artificial tea lights work great for these too. Mason Jar Oil Lamp These are incredibly fun to make and nice to stare at, but keep out of reach of children or you have a fire hazard. You can fill your lamp with all oil, or half water and half oil (a prettier solution). Most of the materials can be found just laying around the house, or you can go purchase fiberglass wicks that you can use forever. Fiberglass wicks do not burn up like a typical candle wick. There are endless variations that can be made. If you ever did the experiment in grade school with food-coloring-dyed liquids that float on each other due to different densities, you can turn this into a beautiful piece of artwork. Glycerine and rubbing alcohol work well. A cork will float between the water and oil. Interesting, huh? MATERIALS NEEDED: 1 Glass jar with metal screw-on lid. 1 Nail or sharp object to puncture the top of the metal lid to create a hole for your wick. 1 Bottle of olive oil or indoor non-toxic burning oil. 1 Piece of 100% cotton scrap (I used a clean old sock with a big hole in it). It's important that it be 100% cotton. If there is polyester or anything else in it, it may produce unhealthy fumes when it burns. 1 pair of scissors (to cut a long thin strand about the size of a wick to go down into your jar through the hole in your lid). That doesn't seem to need more explaining, so we will just keep it simple and let you use your imagination. Breakfast Baked Eggs in Half Pint Jars Oven Baked Egg and Vegetable Cups makes 6-7, depending on the size of your baking vessels 2 teaspoons olive oil 1/2 large onion 1 bundle of asparagus 10 eggs, beaten 3/4 cup grated cheese (I often use this opportunity to finish off any odds and ends) salt and pepper Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut onion into thin half moons. Wash asparagus well (I’ve found that it’s been really gritty lately), trim the ends and cut into chunks of about 1/2 to 3/4 an inch. Heat oil in a large skillet and add onions. Cook until brown. Add asparagus and cook until tender crisp (about five minutes). Season with salt and pepper and set aside. Grease cups/jars. Using tongs, portion out the sauteed vegetables. The cups/jars should be mostly filled with vegetables. Beat eggs and evenly divide between the baking cups/jars. Top with approximately 1 tablespoon of cheese per serving. Using a fork or spoon, carefully stir the contents of each cup/jar so that the cheese isn’t just resting on top. Place the cups/jars on a baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes. When tops are browned, they are done. Remove from oven and let cool. If you used jars, you can put the lids on once they are cool enough to touch (the tops will be puffy and high just after baking, but like a souffle, they will fall). Store egg cups in the refrigerator until ready to eat. They will keep up to five days. Note: This is not a canning recipe. I use jars simply as a convenient baking/transportation vessel. They must be refrigerated once cool. Please do not think that if you put the lids on when the jars are hot that the resulting seal will mean they are shelf stable. Seriously. Final note: If you want to simplify things, you can actually bake egg items like this right in the pan where you sauteed the vegetables (provided that it is oven safe). I use a stainless steel or cast iron skillet and make crustless quiche/frittata as easy brunch/potluck dishes quite frequently. DIY: cupcake in a jar Going to the other side of the spectrum, from a vegetable garden to loaded with all things bad for you, but tastes so good cupcakes. You won't think I am such a genius anymore once I tell you how these are done. It really is easy and makes for such a visually appealing way to dress up cupcakes, not that cupcakes need to be dressed up as the name itself is cute and enticing! I pretty much use Paula Deen's recipe, but with a few of my own tiny tweeks to the ingredients (see*) and then I pretty much follow the directions in Paula Deen's recipe to make the batter and frosting, though I change it up a bit (time in the oven) when it comes to baking it. Ingredients: - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour - 1 1/2 cups sugar - 1 tsp baking soda - 1 tsp salt - *2 1/4 tsp cocoa powder - *1 1/2 cup canola oil - 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature - 2 large eggs, room temperature - 2 tbsp red food coloring - 1 tsp white distilled vinegar - *2 tsp vanilla extract for the cream cheese frosting: - 1 pound cream cheese, softened - 2 sticks butter, softened - *2 tsps vanilla extract - 4 cups sifted powdered sugar 1. Batter is ready to be put in cupcake pan. 2. I spray the pan with pam and then fill each hole up 2/3 with the batter. Note: I do not use liners, but you could if you want, just pull them off before putting them in the jar. 3. Usually they are done after about 17 minutes in my oven at temperature of 350℉, and I take them out and put them on a wire rack to cool completely. 4. Once they are cool, I slice them in half. You will have a stack of tops and a stack of bottoms. 5. Place 1 bottom in each jar. 6. Put a layer of the frosting. 7. Take the top of the cupcake and place on top of the layer of frosting. 8. Flatten (gently smash) the top part of the cupcake inside the jar. You want to get the top sort of flat. 9. Beautifully frost the top of the cupcake. 10. Cover with lids and package however you like! It will be heartbreaking to eat, as it is so pretty, but it is so yummy! Easy, right? See, I told you I am not a genius. I did also want to give a crack at actually baking it in a jar (crossing my fingers that I wouldn't shatter or explode in the oven) and it came out pretty good too. I followed these instructions, but the lid I boiled shrank, so I just ran it in piping hot water right before I put in on the jar. Also, I didn't listen to the "ping" because knowing my ears I wouldn't even hear it (I have small ears, so I have bad hearing! At least that is why I think I can't hear well.) I let the whole jar cool completely, which was 2.5 hours. After it cooled, I opened the jar up, I scooped out a hole in the middle and then filled it with frosting. I finished it off by frosting the top too! Then, I sealed it again and packaged it to my liking. Something I would change next time I bake it in a jar, is to only fill it up a quarter of the way because it came up higher than I wanted it too. Just as cute and delicious as the other way of making it! Here is a little supplies list with a link to where I bought my goodies for packaging: - 8 oz glass jars with gold lid - wooden spoons - round stickers (I did have to cut them down a bit to make it fit the top) - bakers twine - pastry bag and decorative tips Now, go and enjoy as I am sure most of you will be itching to bake or make something (anything) in a jar! It is really darn cute that you have to give it a try! Don't forget to listen to this song as you bake! Happy baking!!!
