Moments: Dealing with Doughnuts

This is going to look like a Christmas post.

That's because it was supposed to be posted at Christmastime.  

Still, it's a moment that made me smile, so bring on the Christmas-ness.

Sparkles, our Elf on the Shelf, brought us pumpkin Krispie Kremes for breakfast.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

Yummy.

The girls were pretty thrilled.  They don't get doughnuts very often.

L, in fact, is still figuring out how to say it.

Me: Say "doughnut."

L: Pancake

Me: Doughnut

L: Pancake

Me: Dough...never mind.

L: Pancake!

Someday she'll get it.

She might also figure out that this may not be the best way to eat a doughnut.

Then again, maybe it is.

Symfully Sweet: What to do with a Peep

My friend Sami has a monthly contest that I have been dying to join up with!  She picks a candy for the month and then tells us to go crazy with our creativity.  You know, let the juices flow...Come up with some kind of project or activity or something that incorporates that month's candy.

This month, she chose....



Ugh.  Peeps.  I don't like Peeps.  Sure they're cute and lovable and my sisters love them!  But, I'm not a fan.  So, this was definitely a challenge.

I thought and thought, and I even came up with some really cute ideas.  But, those ideas either required time I didn't have last month or they would have ended up with Peeps that needed to be eaten.  I just couldn't bring myself to that.  What could I do with Peeps that would put them in a situation where I would still eat them?  Then it came to me.

Here they are...unaware of what lies in their future:

 I dumped them in a pot with half a stick of butter.

I also added some strawberry marshmallows with them, because I needed more.

I turned on the heat and reduced them to a more basic form.   

 It wasn't pretty to watch.  

And the color was kind of a gross pucey color.

Have you caught on to where I'm going with this yet? 

The next step:  I added Rice Krispies and stirred it all together.   

 And of course, at the very end I added chocolate chunks (like the chips only chunks!).  

 Spread them out in a pan...

 ...and no one will ever know these used to be those yucky little Peeps!  

Even I liked 'em!

Yum.

*Disclaimer:  After reading Sami's post, I almost decided to not post mine since we did pretty much the exact same thing.  How embarrassing!  But then I started thinking about it.  I believe this is a case of great minds think alike, since I did this well before I knew that she did it too.  So, I'm posting it because I really want to join in and to support Sami.  Also, Peeps turned Rice Krispie treats are awesome.

Cake Pops!

 I've been wanting to try cake pops for a long while and finally had an excuse to make them for a friend's birthday last week. 

They were really pretty easy to make and lots of fun.  My only problem was I ran out of dipping chocolate and I haven't had time to make more! 

Also, they aren't as pretty as Bakerella's. 

 And, I wish I had a better camera.  All in good time, though. 

They still tasted good and they still look yummy.  That's all that matters, right? 

 Oh, that and I've still got a freezer full of cake balls waiting to be dipped and popped!  I know what snack we're having for Conference!

Valentine's Day fun

*Disclaimer*  

Yes, I know Valentine's Day was more than a week ago.  It is still February, though, so at least I'm close, right?

I have always been a fan of Valentine's Day.  Even when I had no Valentine.  I like the idea of a special day to tell the people you love that you love them.  Of course, it is made better when you spend every day loving them, but...I digress.

I was really excited to celebrate this year.  My girls are getting old enough to appreciate the things I do to set the day apart.  We had a lot of fun loving each other.

Here's what I learned:

Sunglasses, while cool every day, just look better on Valentine's Day.

 It is a good day to decorate with hearts.  Get some heart stickers and put them everywhere.

 Everywhere.

 Here is a fun idea.  Stick the stickers back to back with fish line in between them.  Now you have a pretty garland!

 If you have a 1-year-old that can reach the pretty garland, though, it won't stay up for very long.

Food:  It's a fun way to share love.

Pink food coloring makes pancake batter awesome.

So do chocolate chips.

And whisks on the head.

If you put food in happy heart shapes, it is more interesting to eat.

Hamburger patties, loaded with cheese, are a good choice for dinner.  They are easy to shape with a cookie cutter.

But, when you cook them, they will fall apart and instead of heart-shaped patties, you will have...

 

piles of meat.  

Still loaded with cheese, though.

You can fix the lack of Valentine-y-ness with a cleverly placed piece of heart-shaped cheese.

 

And pink mashed potatoes.

Happy Valentine's Day!