Gifts in a Jiffy!

Happy Thursday, everyone! I'm still making and packaging treats to give to friends, neighbors, teachers, bus drivers -- you get the idea! :) These MFT Perfect Packaging Jars make such a quick and easy presentation of any gift! This week, Kim's MFT Wednesday Stamp Club challenge is Holiday Gifts in a Jiffy -- just what I needed to finish up my gifts!

Here is my candy cane jar, filled with Candy Cane Bark. An easy treat to make, and an easy presentation!

I used Alpha Dots to stamp the greeting for the lid. I punched the letters out with a 1/2" circle punch, and they're matted on 3/4" circles. The large circle and scalloped circle were cut with Nestabilities, but Marvy punches do the trick too! The striped paper is from the BasicGrey Figgy 6x6 pad.

The tag was made with one of the Labels Four Nestabilities dies. The candy cane image is from the Santa Baby set, and the sentiment is from the I Want Candy MFT Kit. The tag is tied on with some fun fibers from my stash, and the dotted ribbon is from the Candy Cane Kisses ribbon nest. I had to add some Baby Braddies, too!

Now, here's the easy peasy recipe for Candy Cane Bark!

Candy Cane Bark

2 pkgs (10 oz each) semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 pkg (10 oz) white chocolate chips

candy canes (about 5 large or 10 small)

Melt the semi-sweet chocolate. Spread onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Place in refrigerator to cool and set. Meanwhile, melt white chocolate. Pour white chocolate over cooled semi-sweet chocolate, and spread, making swirls. Crush candy canes and sprinkle over white chocolate. Again place in refrigerator to cool and set. When set, peel the paper from the back and break the chocolate into pieces. Package in jars or bags for gift giving!

I hope you have some fun ways to create holiday gifts in a jiffy! I'd love for you to share them! Thanks so much for stopping by today! :)

Have a great day!

Christina

Hot Chocolate in a Jar

Happy Sunday! I'm sure that many of you, like me, have been crazy busy with work, kids, and holiday plans. I haven't had nearly as much stamping time as I'd like lately! I did get a fun project completed for the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club. The challenge this week is Gifts in a Jar. I used a Perfect Packaging Square Jar to package some of my Hot Chocolate Malt Mix.

I stamped Flopsey and cut out the image, then I mounted it over embossed cardstock. It looks like the snow is falling around Flopsey, doesn't it? I used Liquid Applique on the mitten cuffs and hat pom pom. The dotted ribbon is from the Gifty Girl MFT Kit.

This Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly paper was perfect for my project. I used Marvy punches to make the circles for the lid, then I zig zag stitched the paper to the cardstock. The Heidi Swapp ghost snowflake was just the right size to top the circles! I printed out the instructions and created the tag. The mug is from the set Coffee? Tea?. I paper pieced it and added more Liquid Applique to the top. The tag is tied around the button so it can be removed and used again!

Since it's Sunday, I have a recipe for you! It's the recipe for the hot chocolate mix! This makes a BIG batch, which you can then package into several jars or bags. It really does taste like a hot chocolate malt! :)

Hot Chocolate Malt Mix

25-oz. pkg. powdered milk

16-oz. jar powdered non-dairy creamer

16-oz. jar hot chocolate mix

13-oz. jar malted milk powder

1c. powdered sugar

1 t. vanilla powder

2 c. mini marshmallows

Use a wire wisk to combine all ingredients. Equally divide mix into jars or plastic zipping bags. Attach instructions to each. Makes about 13 cups.

Thank you so much for the visit today! Have a great day! :)

Christina

Create a Recipe

Happy Sunday! Today, instead of a Sunday Supper recipe, I have recipe cards! I made these with the new set from Cookie Crumbs Stamps called Create a Recipe. There are 16 different images to put on your recipe cards, so you can categorize your recipes!

I can think of SO many uses for this set:
*Cookie Exchanges
*Pot Luck gatherings
*Attach a recipe to a baked gift
*Create an album of family favorite recipes (great bridal shower gift!)
*Or just sharing your recipes with friends!

A hand-stamped recipe card tied to a homemade baked treat -- what could be better? :)

Be sure to stop by the ATS Blog to see more samples of this set and all the new releases! They'll be available tomorrow (Monday) night at 10:00 pm at All That Scraps! Stop by and chat with us on the Message Board at 8:00 pm Eastern before the sets go live!

As you read this, I'm probably on my way home from Orlando! I can't wait to share my CHA experience with you! Thanks for taking the time to visit today! :)

Have a great day!
Christina

Easy Dinner Recipe

Hi, everyone!

If your family is anything like mine, your afternoons and evenings are often filled with practices, games, homework, or meetings. As much as I'd love to be putting big dinners on the table every night to feed my family (and thereby adding something to my "mother of the year" resume), I've resigned myself to the fact that it just isn't realistic at this point in our lives. When we actually have a night when we're all at home for a couple hours, I've come to rely on a few of my kids' favorite meals. I wanted to share this one with you -- it's quick to prepare and has very few ingredients, plus it's easy enough for my teenagers to make in a pinch (and you can always substitute some of that leftover holiday turkey)!!


Easy Chicken Pot Pie
pkg. of 2 refrigerated, ready-to-bake pie crusts
1 10 oz. can chicken breast
1 can cream of chicken soup
16 oz. mixed vegetables (canned or frozen)
splash of milk
dash of pepper
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Unroll pie crusts (leave out at room temperature for about 15 minutes first to make handling easier). Place one crust at the bottom of a deep-dish pie pan. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour into pie crust. Cover with second pie crust, and pinch sides closed. With a knife, make several vents on the top. Bake for 40 minutes. Let stand 10-15 minutes before serving. Serve with salad and bread and enjoy! :)

I'll be back later with a sketch challenge card to share -- see you then!

It's Salsa Time!

Last summer, Chris built a small raised garden bed (about 3'x6') for me so I could have a little "salsa garden." I grow cilantro, tomatoes (2 varieties) and peppers (banana, jalapeno, and green bell). This year, Chris wanted to throw in a Habenero pepper plant as well. Why, you might ask? I don't know -- I guess he's a glutton for punishment. :) Anyway, here are some of this year's fruits. We got a late start planting, and I've been battling just to keep everything alive with this terrible heat, so we had our first harvest a little later than I'd hoped (just a couple weeks ago).


I now have enough tomatoes to make my salsa! I found this recipe last year at allrecipes.com -- it's really good and tastes like fresh restaurant salsa. I thought I'd share it in case anyone would like to try it:

Jen's Fresh and Spicy Salsa

5-7 Roma (plum) tomatoes, seeded and chopped
10 green onions, chopped
2 fresh Jalapeno peppers, seeded
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 Tbs lime juice
2 Tbs hot pepper sauce
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt

In a blender, pulse the tomatoes, green onions, jalapenos, and cilantro until smooth. Pour into a bowl. Add the other ingredients, stirring to combine well. Refrigerate 1-2 hours before serving.

Enjoy! :)