A Review for an embossed Rolling Pin (Beautiful!)

I've been so intrigued with embossed rolling pins for some time, so when I was offered one for a review, of course, I jumped at the opportunity. 

I even got to choose the design I wanted...which was more difficult

than I imagined it would be.  I wanted them all! I ended up choosing the 

"Floral" pattern...

(from embossed website) 

Thank you to Jessica at embossed rolling pin  for sharing with me! 

This info...direct from their website, will give you more details..

100% Solid Beech Wood

Our embossed rolling pins are very unique. Why, you ask? Well, all of our rolling pins are made from 100% pure high-grade solid beech wood. They are also 100% food-safe and free of BPA or any other toxic substances. This makes our decorative rolling pins unique, as others sell rolling pins that are cheaply manufactured with low-grade wood or with toxic glue or wood preservatives. We’ve worked hard to ensure that our rolling pins are made from the highest-quality beech wood, and we pay meticulous attention to every detail at each stage of production. As a result, these 3D rolling pins are heirloom-quality and will last a lifetime.

The lovely rolling pin has 'decorated' my kitchen counter ever since arriving! 

I tried two 'white' cookie dough recipes at first, but was more pleased

with the darker cookie dough that seemed to make the design pop. 

I was VERY encouraged by the 'tips' I found here at 

this beautiful farm life....

(Please be sure to check out her post...her cookies are adorable too!) 

Not only how to care for the rolling pin, but how to get the best results when using it.

My favorite hint was refrigerating the dough before baking.  

WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT??? 

I used this recipe for soft gingerbread cookies (with a rum butter glaze, if desired) from the lemon apron and they tasted great and looked beautiful.  Just be sure you roll them thin enough..otherwise, a thick cookie will be harder. 

These gorgeous rolling pins make wonderful gifts for Mother's Day, Birthdays, Christmas, or 'just because'. 

Use them for really 'fancy-ing up' your pie crusts or even fondant! 

Please go to the embossed Facebook page to get more details
and then get one for yourself and maybe one for a gift. 

Or check them out at Pinterest!!

And don't forget to tell them The Better Baker sent you! 

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Edible Apple Turkey Craft - Kid Friendly

I almost forgot!

I helped a bunch of kids, about 8 or 9 of them, make these fun 'turkeys' at a Thanksgiving gathering last year at the home of friends-like-family. The ages ranged from probably 3 to 10.  It was simple fun and all the adults enjoyed the results too. Cute! Cute!

Lots of options - you can use raisins for eyes, or edible markers...be creative. 

I had some edible 'eyes' on hand, so that's what we used..using a dab of honey to 'glue' them on. 

We cut a gumdrop in half for the 'waddle', then shaped it into a longer shape...

attached it to the marshmallow with honey or part of a toothpick...

This is what you need for each turkey...

1 medium apple 

toothpicks

spice drops 

(they're smaller than regular ones) 

lg. marshmallow

eyes - raisins, edible markers or store purchased 'eyes' 

Place 3 spice drops on a toothpick, leaving room at the bottom to poke it into the apple.  Make as many 'feathers' as you'd like.

Add 2 toothpick legs (it helps steady the bird=) and add a spice drop to each for feet. 

Push half a toothpick into the apple where you want to put the 'head'; push marshmallow into pick.  Add eyes and 'waddle'.  May use candy corn for a beak. 

Use your imagination.  These are fun and will produce lots of giggles,

from all ages. 

HAPPY THANKS-LIVING!!!!!! 

​

Patriotic Rice Krispy Treats

This is a simple and fun way to add a festive touch to any patriotic holiday.

I sold these at my farmer's market stand for Memorial Day and they were a real hit. I'm making them again for July 4th weekend. 

I've seen a number of ideas, but I went with this one I saw at Lil' Luna,  She has a great picture tutorial so be sure to check her out. And her colors are nice and vibrant too! 

PATRIOTIC RICE KRISPY TREATS 

6 c. Rice Krispies cereal

1 (10 ozs) pkg. mini marshmallows

 3 TB. butter

red & blue food coloring (gel colors are brighter)
I think the colors 'fade' as these set up, so make them
brighter than what you think they should be....

 Divide the rice krispies and marshmallows in three parts for the three layers (2 cups rice krispies and about 2 cups marshmallows)


Spray 9" X 9" (or 8" X 8") pan with non stick cooking spray; set aside. 

I like to microwave the marshmallows. Place them in a large microwave safe bowl along with 1 Tb. margarine for a few minutes or until they start to puff up. Stir well and add the food coloring (I used a bit of blue gel I had leftover, then added blue food coloring...same with the red - Original recipe suggests adding 1/4 – 1/3 tube of the gel food coloring which makes the colors pretty and bright). Add the 2 cups of Rice Krispies and stir well. Press into prepared pan. 
Repeat process with each layer; press well into pan.  (I used a large metal spatula - sprayed with non stick cooking spray) to press firmly into pan, 
Let stand in pan until set up then cut and serve.   

Or simply top your 'plain' rice krispies with red and blue mini M & M's and sprinkles.

It's an attention getter. 

Linked to 
Weekend Potluck
Meal Plan Monday

Whatever you do, enjoy a wonderful and safe 4th! 

It's right around the corner!!!!!!!!!! 

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Pretzel Pumpkins

I love foodie fun like these adorable 'pumpkins'!! 

 I've seen this recipe in many varieties, changing ingredients or process. And maybe you have too...I first saw them at Pinterest, and finally settled on making them after I found some orange candy melts on sale! =) 

So...I didn't have to add the food coloring. 

Sweet and Salty is always a wonderful combo.  
Add E-Z to that and you've got a winning recipe!!  

These are fun little treats to help celebrate fall!!  Some of them look like Jack-O-Lanterns, don't you think??

(I did add more crisco after taking this photo...mixture was too thick).

 Before melting the chocolate, I added water to crockpot and turned on high til it was steaming, then I turned it to low and placed my glass bowl on top to keep the chocolate runny, after it was melted.

PRETZEL PUMPKINS 

 1 (12 ozs) bag (Orange) Wilton Candy Melts or 
1 (12 ozs) pkg. white chocolate chips
2 - 3 tsp. crisco 
(Start with small amount, adding more if needed)

 orange food coloring, if needed

1 bag tiny twist pretzels
Green M & M's or Skittles 

In a glass bowl, melt melts (sorry I couldn't resist saying that!=) or chocolate, according to package directions, adding crisco first. (Do not use butter or oil, only crisco - and don't overheat...do it nice and slow, stirring every 30 seconds or so)

Add food coloring if necessary - red & yellow or 1/8 tsp. orange food gel

Dip pretzels with a fork; remove excess by tapping on edge of pan; rest 'pumpkins' on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper.

Immediately place a green M & M (or Skittle) sideways at the top of the pretzel. Let stand until chocolate sets up.

​

You may also enjoy 

Hershey's Kiss Acorn Treats

Peanut Butter Pumpkins

​

Leader Enterprise - April 23, 2014 - Couponing

I have always been a coupon-er. I wanted to share some practical ideas to help you save money as you choose what to purchase to stock your pantry and refrigerator. 

Using coupons is a great way to stretch your family’s budget. There are available coupons for things other than groceries too, like restaurants, toys,and even vacations. Experiment using coupons to help you save up to 90% to try new products you wouldn’t normally buy but will practically put to use.

My blogging friend, Tonya, author of the 4 Little Fergusons blog, recently saved a bundle using coupons. After caring for her ill father-in-law in her home before his death, she didn't do any 'serious'grocery shopping for 5 weeks. When she finally got to stock up, her grocery bill came to $749. She paid 'only' $400 because of coupons! Now that's inspiration!

Buying one or more Sunday papers that include coupon books, is a great way to get stocked up on savings. Check out websites, like www.thecouponclippers.com  that offer coupons for cents on the dollar or www.coupondivas.com that offer tutorials to help you get started in the couponing game. Maybe you have a friend who will give you their coupons? It never hurts to ask especially if those savings are being tossed in the trash.

Many may not realize that expired coupons can be mailed to the military. They are able to use them up to 6 months after expiration. One site to check out more details is www.couponsfortroops.com. What a simple thing to do to help and support our troops and their families.

Make it a goal to only buy grocery items on sale and with a coupon. Plan meals around those purchases.

Whether or not you are new to couponing or you’re a seasoned saver, one of the first steps you need to consider is how to store and organize your coupons. I would suggest you always carry your coupons with you. Even though you think you’re running into the store for one item, you might see something on sale or on the clearance rack that you have a coupon for, so you’ll want it handy.

It might work for you to tuck your clipped coupons into a simple envelope. Or mark several envelopes with categories. Or according to expiration dates. Do what works best for you.

Maybe you’d prefer, as I do, an expanding file that is wallet size and easy to carry in your purse. Make sure it has tabs on top of the pockets to mark them as you wish. Another idea is to use a small recipe box with alphabetical dividers.

Whenever I place my clipped coupons inside the file, I always place the newest ones at the back. It helps keep the oldest coupons (with nearing expiration dates) in the front of each category.

Here's a couple of cute, fun things to make for our upcoming Easter holiday. These are simple enough the kids can help.

EDIBLE CHOCOLATE ROBIN'S NESTS

1 c. shredded coconut

4 c. Frosted Mini Wheats (Regular or Chocolate)

2 c. milk chocolate chips

waxed paper

round bowl for shaping

Cadbury Mini Eggs or jelly beans or fruit(for eggs)

Place Frosted Mini Wheats in a large bowl and break up. Add coconut and toss until mixed well. Using a double boiler, (or a heat-safe bowl set over pot of boiling water) melt chocolate. Pour melted chocolate over wheat mixture and mix up until the chocolate evenly coats.

Using wax paper, line a round bowl that you will use for shaping the nest. Form the nests, either in the muffin tins or on the tray. Make sure to make a little center for your eggs. Place bowls of nests in your refrigerator to harden. When they are hardened, simply pull the wax paper and they should pop right out.Place your choice of eggs in the center of your nest and use as a table decoration.

(Freezing Directions): You can make these ahead and simply place them in a gallon freezer bag until you are ready to use. Take out of freezer and serve.(Displaying them frozen can help them last longer as a display item.)

EASTER COOKIE BIRD NESTS

1 (6 oz.) butterscotch morsels

1/2 c. peanut butter

5 c. corn flakes

Jelly beans

Melt peanut butter and morsels. Stir in corn flakes and blend until coated. Drop on waxed paper and make a center. Chill and fill with jelly beans or whatever candy you desire. 

I love the combo of sweet potatoes and apples (applesauce) cooked together. A wonderful recipe when you need the oven for baking other things. This is a lower-calorie/sugar recipe also.

CROCKPOT SWEET POTATO CHUNKS

2 lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2" cubes

(about 4 medium potatoes)

1 c. unsweetened applesauce

1/4 c. brown sugar, packed

1 Tb. water

3 Tb. (diet) margarine, melted

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 c. chopped pecans, toasted 

Place prepared sweet potatoes in crockpot sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Mix remaining ingredients, except pecans; spoon over potatoes. Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or until potatoes are very tender. Toast pecans in ungreased skillet over medium low heat for 5-7 minutes (or place in bowl in microwave-heat in 1 minute increments, stirring between each, until you can smell that nutty fragrance.) Sprinkle pecans over sweet potatoes; serve immediately. Yield: 6 servings 

May you all enjoy a Blessed Easter season as we celebrate the Risen Savior. 

.

​

Edible Chocolate Robin's Nest

I made this adorable big nest as a centerpiece for a family get together a few years ago...it was added to another recipe post, so I decided to give it one of it's own!

It was simple and we all enjoyed bites of it too.

Just mix crushed mini wheats cereal with coconut, mix with chocolate, and form it.  These can be made ahead and frozen if you'd like. 

A fun conversation piece to grace your Easter table. 

EDIBLE CHOCOLATE ROBIN'S NESTS

1 cup shredded coconut

4 cups Frosted Mini Wheats (Regular or Chocolate)

2 cups milk chocolate chips 

waxed paper

round bowl for shaping

Cadbury Mini Eggs or jelly beans or fruit

Place Frosted Mini Wheats in a large bowl and break up. Add coconut and toss until mixed well. Using a double boiler, (or a heat-safe bowl set over pot of boiling water) melt chocolate. Pour melted chocolate over wheat mixture and mix up until the chocolate evenly coats.

 Using wax paper, line a round bowl that you will use for shaping the nest. Form the nest, pressing down with a big spoon or (bottom greased) another bowl.  Be sure to make an indentation in the center for your eggs. Place nest in refrigerator to harden. After it is hardened, just pull the wax paper and it should come right out.

Place your choice of eggs in the center of your nest and use as a table decoration.

(Freezing Directions)

You can make this ahead and simply place them in a gallon freezer bag until you are ready to use. Take out of freezer and serve. (Displaying it frozen can help them last longer as a display item.)

Linked to Weekend Potluck
          Easter Roundup
        Meal Plan Monday

​

Easter Cookie Bird Nests...and more

(From my archives)...

I had big plans to make some fun things for Easter posts, and life has kept me hopping (sorry - I couldn't resist =) in other directions.

So I will share what I quickly made, and give you a few links for some other great and creative ideas to help celebrate this special holiday.

I looked around for 'Easter nests' recipes and found sooo many options!

You can use rice krispies, coconut, chow mein noodles, shredded wheat, etc.

Chocolate, marshmallow creme, butterscotch, peanut butter bases...etc.

But I used what I had on hand and that was cornflakes with melted butterscotch chips and peanut butter.  Very tasty.

Simple too!

I think the next time I would hand-crush the cornflakes a little bit before stirring them into the candy mixture. 

I put them in muffin cups to form them easier.  The paper is easily removed after they're chilled.

I tried making a well in the center, but they wouldn't cooperate very easily.  Crushing the flakes some might make a difference?

This recipe comes from Cooks.com

They're more of a candy than a cookie...

EASTER COOKIE BIRD NESTS

1 (6 oz.) butterscotch morsels

1/2 c. peanut butter

5 c. corn flakes

Jelly beans

Melt peanut butter and morsels. Stir in corn flakes and blend until coated. Drop on waxed paper and make a center. Chill and fill with jelly beans or whatever candy you want or even peanuts. 

(I have permission to use these photos and links) 

Check out the Easter Bunny Buns from Mommy's Kitchen.  Tina uses her easy cake mix crescent roll recipe to make these adorable bunnies.

Erin at Making Memories with your Kids made these adorable Easter Egg Hunt cookies.  The dough is wrapped around a mini cadbury egg.  I think they couldn't be cuter or more irresistible!

And who could possibly say no to these adorable Cooking Creation's Easter Egg Pops? Celeste also shares some other delicious recipes on this page.

This next idea is my favorite. I enjoyed a great time making these Resurrection Cookies with two of my granddaughters a few years ago. They still talk about it.  The process of making these cookies illustrates the message of Easter.

 From Lynn at  The Life of a Foodie and Her Family

Her step-by-step pictures for Resurrection Cookies are awesome!

May we not forget the Reason for this Easter celebration...

Revelation 1:18 - I am He who lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen.

Bacon Roses Tutorial is here!!!!

OH HOW FUN THIS WAS! 

These lovely 'flowers' would make an awesome centerpiece anytime, and they're great for celebrating birthdays or anniversaries with.

YOU.CAN.EAT.THEM!!

I know some of you saw the photo of our bacon roses that I posted on Facebook while hubby and I were away celebrating our 45th anniversary.  We went to visit dear TN friends who spend the winter in Florida, and were able to stay in a camper in the same RV park.  We had a blast! and enjoyed our time there immensely.  Can't wait to go back next year! Feel like we have a new family away from our own. 

(Stay tuned for a few more t-shirt scarf/tote tutorials..per request, I taught the gals in the park FIVE times...in two weeks time! WHAT.A.KICK!) 

I've been asked to share a tutorial of these pretty 'flowers' and have had fun putting this post together. 

Because I was using a gas oven and not the electric I have at home, and the microwave I used was tiny, I can't say for sure about baking time for this recipe, but I have no doubt, YOU CAN DO THIS!  It's really very simple and I was so pleased with the results. 

I can't say just whose recipe I used because I kinda did my own thing.

I did take my muffin cups and papers with me to be sure I had them, but this was certainly the first time I'd tried making these. 

Have I said how pleased I was with how they turned out!?  *-*

I have seen all kinds of ideas around the net for making these yummy 'flowers'. 

One gal even drilled holes in the bottom of each of her mini muffin cups so the grease could drain down into another pan.  I've seen different kinds of fake flowers used, and even celery for the greens. (they put toothpicks through the bottom of the bacon flowers...used the leaves from the heart of the celery, stood it up and tucked the bacon in...it was cute..and all edible!) 

If you notice in the photo below, because I didn't have a vase, I just stuck the stem of the flowers into the middle of the full paper towel roll.  But you can add marbles to a vase and 'plant' your flowers in the vase to make for a special touch..  

I made the roses a couple of days ahead and stored them in a covered dish in the fridge, then just microwaved them a bit and put them on the fake stems while hubby was gone for a little while. 

I used thick sliced bacon, using 2 slices for one rose, but made them again for our friend's granddaughter, Lydia, who was visiting them. using thin sliced.  She LOVES pork, especially bacon.  Both turned out nicely, the thick bacon just makes for a bigger flower.

You can also use one strip of bacon for each roll too.  I suggest doing that if using mini muffin pans. (I've seen tutorials using no papers too). 

And there are so many kinds of bacon to choose from..not only the cut, but there's 'low sodium', 'hickory smoked', 'maple flavored' 'turkey bacon', etc. etc. Use what you want (though I'm not sure turkey bacon would work for this?). 

HOW ABOUT CHOCOLATE COVERED BACON?  I just might have to dip the flowers in chocolate the next time around.  YOWZA!!!

OK...onto the instructions.

This is what you'll need. 

bacon (thick or thin sliced)

'bouquet' of fake flowers

regular or mini muffin pan

cupcake papers

Preheat oven to 375*. 

After placing 2 muffin papers in each muffin cup (I made 5 flowers with 1/2# bacon and had a few pieces of bacon left over)...

#1 - remove flowers from stems

(I suggest swishing the green part in soapy water, then rinsing

and drying before adding flowers)

#2 - on clean surface, roll two slices of bacon (just as they lay in the package...one higher than the other - the 'higher' piece being on the outside of the roll)

#3 - place them, fat side down, into the muffin cup. 

#4 - After baking for about 35+ minutes, I removed them from the papers with a fork, placing the grease and papers into a disposable container to throw out. 

#5 - Place the roses on paper towels on a plate and if needed, microwave a couple of minutes longer to get a crisper end result.  (That helps draw out the fat too.)

When cool, just place roses on stems - 

WALA!!! 

Refrigerate until ready to 'serve'. 

I hope you have half as much fun as we did with this great idea!!! 

Linked to Thursday's Treasures
     Whatcha Whipped up Wednesday
Spring Hop Linky Party
Scrumptious Sunday
Mop it up Monday
Mix it up Monday
Melt in your Mouth Monday
Gooseberry Patch Roundup - Father's Day
Foodie Friends Friday
Weekend Potluck