Doll Swimsuit

My daughter has a doll that she loves.  Obsessed would be a better word.  She loves to buy her things or make her things.  Lately she has wanted to get her a swimsuit but they are ridiculously expensive for clothes.  So we researched and found the idea of making a swimsuit for a doll out of a sock.  At first we didn't believe it would work but we were amazed.

First you need a sock.  I used a knee length girls sock.  Fun patterns are a must.  I think you could use a smaller sock if you needed to.  We had a lot left over.

 Measure the sock against your doll.  You want the toe part on the crotch and then place your finger where the neck is.

I ended up just cutting opposite the heel.

Cut a small oval, really small.

 Then cut the straps.  I just guessed how long.  You can always cut them shorter.

 Cut down and when you near the neck opening curve out and down.

 Now cut the strap piece in half.

 Now you have a swimsuit!  Lay it out flat like so...

 And then cut small ovals for the legs.  Try to cut them so they are symmetrical.

 If you want a wrap cut off the top off the sock.  I would cut it higher up on the right side here.  My next two looked better than this.  Then cut another long piece of sock for the tie.  Stretch the tie piece and wind it a bit.

 Now to try it on the doll.  Tie the neck straps.  Cut them shorter if need be.

 You can also tuck in all the rough edges, but lets face it this is for little girls to take on and off so who really cares!

 Add the wrap and tie on the strip to the short side.  Cute!

 We made two more.

 You can see how even the small cut off the neck can affect the look.  Happy Crafting!

Brownie Pudding

Brownie Pudding 

I saw this recipe weeks ago and I have been dying to try it.  I got it from Mel's Kitchen Cafe which is an site and you should all follow her.  Love her recipes.  I just changed the recipe a tiny bit.

Brownie Pudding

Ingredients:

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

5 large eggs

1 3/4 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 sticks (16 Tbsp.) butter, melted

Ice Cream (optional)

• Preheat your oven to 325 Degrees Fahrenheit.  Mix the cocoa powder, flour, and salt together in a bowl.  In a separate bowl beat the eggs and sugar together for about five minutes until it becomes a light yellow color.  Beat in the vanilla and slowly add in the melted butter.  Either cool the butter first or mix it in VERY slowly with a slow stream into the bowl.  Add the dry ingredients and beat until just mixed together. 
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• Prep your pans. You need one 9x13 pan and 5-6 Ramekins.  Fill each Ramekin with brownie batter.  Place them in the 9x13 pan and then into the oven.  Now pour water into the 9x13 pan just until it is half way filled.  This will give the brownie pudding the soft gooeyness.   Bake for 45 minutes and allow to cool for about 15 minutes or they will be like molten lava.  
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• I turned some of them out onto a plate and some we just ate from the Ramekins.  They are very rich so you might want to share one!  Also serving them with ice cream is always a good idea.      

Christmas Crack

I bought this on a whim and decided I needed to do something with it.  Then I found a recipe for Christmas Crack that I decided to beef up.

Christmas Crack

Ingredients:

1 12.8 ounce box Rice Chex cereal

1 12 ounce box Golden Grahams cereal

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup slivered almonds (optional)

1 1/2 cups butter

2 cups sugar

One bag Dream Bar mix Ins or 1 cup chocolate chips, M&Ms, and Peanut butter chips

Mix the cereals, coconut, and almonds together in a big bowl.  In a medium sized saucepan mix the butter, sugar, and corn syrup together.  Stir constantly over medium heat until it comes to Soft Ball stage.

Pour onto the cereal.  Give it a seconds to cool and then add in the bag of chocolate.  Mix in gently and pour out onto 2 greased cookie sheets to cool. Store in airtight containers.  

Christmas Presents

Ooey Gooey Caramel Popcorn

My sister made this popcorn on the Fourth of July and I had to call her this week to get it from her.  

Ooey Gooey Caramel Popcorn

Ingredients:
1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)
2 cups of brown sugar
1 cup white corn syrup
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk (buy the good stuff for this recipe)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 batches of popcorn (about 6 cups)

   Combine the sugar, butter, and syrup in a heavy bottomed saucepan on medium high heat until the mixture comes to a good rolling boil.  STIR THE ENTIRE TIME!  Turn the heat to low and add the sweetened condensed milk.  Turn the heat up to medium and heat while stirring the entire time to another rolling boil.  Cook for 45 seconds longer and take off the heat.  Let this cool for 1-2 minutes.  Add vanilla and stir.

Pour over popcorn and gently mix in.  I ended up with a little too much caramel and not enough popcorn so I just popped some more and mixed it in.

Favorite Over-night Waffles

My mother-in-law got me a waffle iron for my birthday and the recipes that came with it are awesome.  This one is my favorite.

Over-Night Waffles

You need to start this batter the night before you want to have the waffles unless you are having breakfast for dinner and then you need to make the batter in the morning.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup warm water

1 Tbsp. white sugar

2 1/4 tsp. yeast

2 cups whole milk or whatever you have.

1/2 cup butter melted and cooled

1 tsp. salt

2 cups flour

2 large eggs, beaten

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp. baking soda.

The night before, combine the water, sugar, and yeast.  Let this sit until the yeast becomes foamy.  Add the milk, melted butter, and salt.  Then add the flour.  Cover your bowl with plastic wrap and let it stand.  Don't refrigerate it.  

In the morning add the rest of the ingredients.  Then follow the instructions on your waffle iron to cook them.  

Scary Face Punch

We had a Halloween party with some friends and I thought it would be fun to make punch with a scary face.

Juice dyed green.

Sorry I didn't get a picture of the finished product but it was awesome.  

Ingredients:

Lemon-Lime Soda
White grape juice
another juice of your choice like apple juice
green food coloring
assorted candy like gummy worms, gummy bears, licorice, etc.
assorted fruit like lemons, limes, and apples

I used a silicone cake pan and froze some juice in it.  Once that was set I made a face out of candy and fruit.  Then I froze it again.  A few hours later I poured more green juice on top of that.  Don't worry if you can't see the face perfectly.  When you pour on the soda the juice will dissolve quickly and the face will appear again.

Once you are ready for the party place the frozen face in a punch bowl and pour more juice and soda on top.  The kids and adults loved this.