Lord of the Rings Party -35

Visit Lord of the Rings Marathon Party -13 for more Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Recipes and Party Fun


My husband turned 35 this year so I decided to throw him a surprise party.  I decided on a Lord of the Rings theme for him and invited tons of family to surprise him!  It was hard keeping it a surprise since he knew that his family was coming to town from all over, but we had fun with a full Lord of the Rings meal with dessert and decorations. 

First we started off by shooting a few of his guns for fun!

I made myself an ivy headdress to look more Lord of the Rings festive.

As he entered the house he saw the sign that was on Baggin’s door in part of the movie.

I also made a birthday banner!

I printed out a map that I found on Google images of Middle earth onto tan paper.  Then I crumpled it up a few times and then flattened it out and burnt the edges.

I thought it would be fun to have a list of Hobbit meals sitting on the table with the food.

For lunch I tried to make Lord of the Rings type food, although I’m not sure how accurate I was?

Here are some of the foods that I made for lunch…

Po Tay Toe Coney (Beef Stew)

  • 1 lb cooked and diced beef
  • 1 can beef broth
  • 1/2 tbl minced onion
  • 1 tsp garlic salt
  • 3 stalks chopped celery
  • 4 diced potatoes
  • 4 diced carrots
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp dried sage
  • 1/2 tsp thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 can tomato soup

I just mixed it all in a pot and let it simmer for about an hour.  Don’t forget to take out the bay leave before you serve it.

Bread Bowls

I made the bread bowls to eat with the coney.

  • 2 (.25 ounce) packs active dry yeast
  • 2 1/2 cups warm water
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbl vegetable oil
  • 7 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbl cornmeal
  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon water
  1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and let it stand for about 10 minutes (should look creamy).
  2. Add salt, oil and 4 cups of flour to the yeast and beat well; then stir in the remaining flour about 1/2 cup at a time (you can use an electric mixer for this part if you have one).
  3. When the dough forms a ball, dump it onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes (until smooth).
  4. Lightly oil a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl.  Turn the bowl until the dough has been covered with oil.
  5. Cover it with a damp cloth for about 40 minutes in a warm place.  It should rise to about double it’ size.
  6. Punch down the dough, and divide it into 8 equal parts.
  7. Shape each part into a round ball about 4 inches in diameter.
  8. Lightly grease a baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal.
  9. Place the 8 dough balls on the sheet and cover again.  Place in a warm place for about 35 minutes, should double in size again.
  10. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  11. In a small bowl beat egg white and 1 tbl water.
  12. Lightly brush the dough with the egg wash.
  13. Bake for 15 minutes then brush with more egg wash again.
  14. Bake fore 10 more minutes and then let cool.
  15. Cut about 1/2 inch in around the bowl.  Cut with your knife straight down about 3/4 inch from the bottom.
  16. Then scoop out the bread in the middle.

Corn Chowder (Corn Casserole)

  • 1 can whole drained kernel corn
  • 1 can creamed corn
  • 2 tbl flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tbl melted butter
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Lightly grease a 8×8  casserole dish.
  3. Stir the corns, flour, salt, pepper, and sugar together.
  4. Whisk the eggs and milk in a separate bowl.
  5. Add the egg to the corn and stir.
  6. Add the butter and stir.
  7. Pour into casserole dish.
  8. Bake for 45 minutes

Elven Bird Delight

I got a roasted herb chicken at a local super market for this.

Roasted Green Beans

  • 1 can green beans
  • 1 tbl oil
  • salt and pepper
  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Toss all ingredients and place them in a small dish.
  3. Roast in oven for about 20 minutes stirring halfway through.

Honey Cakes

  • 3 cups flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Grease cupcake pan.
  3. Stir together dry ingredients.
  4. Use a different bowl to mix your wet ingredients.
  5. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and mix like batter.
  6. Pour batter into cupcake pan and bake for about 15 minutes.
  7. Check with a toothpick.
  8. Let cool for about 5 minutes before you remove from the pan.

Platter

I put bread from inside the bread bowls, cheese slices with little sword sandwich picks, grapes, and pickles.

Rosie’s Bread

I just got Hawaiian King Honey Wheat Rolls for this.

Balin’s Spiced Beef  (sirloin wrapped in bacon)

I just bought the prewrapped sirloin and sprinkled some season salt on.  I broiled it for about 10-15 minutes on each side.

Elven Lembas

  • 2 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tbl baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup cold butter
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 tea lemon juice
  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
  3. Knead butter into mixture with your fingers (should look like a crumbly mixture).
  4. Stir in sugar.
  5. Add milk and lemon juice and stir until dough forms.
  6. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll out about 1/2 inch thick.
  7. Cut out 2 inch squares and place on a cookie sheet.
  8. Criss-cross each square from corner to corner with a pizza cutter (don’t cut all the way though just the tops).
  9. Bake for 10 minutes or until lightly golden.
  10. Print out the Lembas Bread Leaf Wrap on green paper.  Fold according to the directions.
  11. Tie with twine to keep closed.

For the drink table I had Ginger Ale, Tea, and Apple Cider.

For the dessert table I had lots of little snacks.

I put out a few extra berries in a little bowl.

Orc Bolders

Donut holes.

Gollum’s Goodies

Gummy worms and Sweedish fish.

The Ring

Peachy O gummies.

Council of Elrond

Keebler Elf cookies.

Smaug’s Gems (Brigaderio)

  • 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 Tbl butter
  • 3 Tbl nesquick
  • Chopped nuts, Mini chocolate chips, Coconut
  1. In a saucepan heat sweetened condensed milk, butter and Nesquick on medium heat.
  2. Stir continuously for about 10 minutes, until it’s thick enough to show the bottom of the pan.
  3. Pour the mixture into a lightly greased dish and let it cool for about an hour.
  4. Grease your hands and roll into 1 inch balls.
  5. Roll the balls into the nuts, chocolate, or coconut.

Mrs. Cottons BerryPie (Cherry Cheese Pie)

This is more the type of dessert that my husband likes.  One of his favorites is my mom’s recipe for Cherry Cheese Pie.

  • 9 inch graham crust
  • 8 oz. cream cheese
  • 14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/3 cup lemon juice
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 can cherry pie filling
  1. Beat cream cheese until fluffy.
  2. Beat in the milk until smooth.
  3. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla.
  4. Pour into the crust.
  5. Chill for 3 hours.
  6. Top with cherries.
  7. Refrigerate leftovers.

Goldberry’s Pie (Berry Short Cake)

I wanted a hobbit type looking cake but couldn’t find anything in my research that was good enough.  I didn’t want to just have a decorated cake (because my husband hates cake).  I decided to try to create something else based on a picture I saw somewhere.  Even my husband ate this cake… I think it’s the best cake I have ever tasted and I will be making it again for sure!

  • Round Short Cake
  • 1 jar Marshmallow Creme
  • 8 oz. Cream Cheese
  • Strawberries
  • Blackberries
  • 1 can Pirouette Wafers
  • Ribbon (I used gold to look like a golden ring)
  1. Beat marshmallow cream and cream cheese together and spread around the outside of the cake.  If you have extra add it to the top or middle of the cake.
  2. Break off about 1/4 of the wafers and press them into the sides of the frosted cake.
  3. Wash the fruit and arrange the berries on the top of the cake.
  4. Refrigerate the leftovers.

I found a few Lord of the Rings gifts that I thought he would like.


Visit Lord of the Rings Marathon Party -13 for more Lord of the Rings and Hobbit Recipes and Party Fun

Batman Birthday Party -7

J is 7 now… growing so fast!  He has liked Batman since he was 3.  When he was 3 he was asked by a teacher what he was going to be for Halloween (we had never dressed up for Halloween before and never talked about it before this).  He responded like he knew what it was all about, “I’m going to be Batman”.  I didn’t even know that he knew who Batman was, but we let him dress up anyway and he still likes Batman!

Marshmallow Fondant Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
  • 3 TBSP water
  • 2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
  • Crisco

Directions:

  1. Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
  2. Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
  3. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
  4. Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
  5. Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
  6. Grease a clean work surface with Crisco and dump out the fondant and all the loose bits. Grease your hands liberally with Crisco and knead the mixture together, just like kneading bread, for about 5 minutes until smooth.
  7. Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
  8. Once smooth, you can divide and color the fondant. While working with one piece, cover the remaining fondant with plastic wrap to keep it from drying out.
  9. When you have your colors finished coat the fondant in a light layer or Crisco; wrap in plastic wrap and place in a large baggie for at least an hour, preferably overnight.
  10. Store at room temperature for several months. To us it, dust the surface and rolling pin with powdered sugar and roll out to 1/8 of an inch.

Birthday Gifts

I found him the Batman beach towel for a gift.  He also got Legos and more Batman toys!

My sister-in-law, Cloninger Photography, took J’s 7 year old birthday pictures.

I have tons of other kids party themes: 

Independence Day Party -12

For the 4th of July we grilled and had some fireworks.  It’s been really hot this summer with record highs of over 100 degrees so we just had smaller fireworks this year. We grilled hot dogs and corn on the cob then we had watermelon and chips too.  The boys love fireworks and have been looking forward to today for a while now.

I filled the kiddy pool with water balloons and had a little water balloon battle.

The boys liked the tanks and the parachutes this year.

The smoke bombs were a favorite for the kids and adults. We stuck a green smoke bomb down one snake hole and some of the smoke came out of another snake whole next to it.

Sparklers and fountains are my favorite!

Happy 4th! 🙂

Here are some more Independence Day Party ideas.

Butterfly Unit Study

In this unit study we learned about the life cycle of butterflies and moths, the anatomy of butterflies and moths, and the differences between butterflies and moths.  We also grew a butterfly and record our observations.  This unit study has 4 days worth of lessons, and it takes 3 to 4 weeks to grow the butterfly.  I did this unit study with my 1st grader and I recommend it for Kindergarten to 3rd grade.

Day 1 Butterfly Life Cycle

Day 2  Caterpillar Anatomy

Day 3 Butterfly Anatomy 

Day 4 Butterfly vs Moth

Butterfly Book List

Books can be read by the child or by the parent to the child, depending on the child’s reading level. I don’t think that a child is ever too old to be read to.

Books I used in the lessons

Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert

Creep, Crawly Caterpillars by Margery Facklam

Caterpillar to Butterfly by Camilla de la Bedoyere

What’s the Difference Between a Butterfly and a Moth? by Robin Koontz

Other age appropriate books…

Butterfly Story by Anca HaritonButterfly House by Eve Bunting 
The Lamb and the Butterfly illustrated by Eric Carle

Painted Lady Butterflies by Martha E. H. Rustad

The Magic School Bus the Butterfly and the Bog Beast by Nancy E. Krulik and Thompson Brothers

Can You Tell a Butterfly from a Moth by Buffy Silverman

Butterfly Video List

Wild Kratts Episode 109 Voyage of the Butterflier XT

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/animals-pets-kids/bugs-kids/butterflies-kids/ (Web Video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vXmF5W_Wkc (Web Video)

The Magic School Bus Season 2 Episode 5 – Butterfly and the Bog Beast (DVD)

Live Butterfly Garden

We got a Butterfly Garden from www.insectlore.com.  When we got the kit we sent for the caterpillars.  They came in about a week.

There were 4 tiny caterpillars in a container with food and air holes in it.  We did not have to open the container at all.

J recorded his observations of the caterpillars in a home made butterfly journal.  He wrote an update every other day or so; he also drew a picture for each journal entry.

On day 10 two of the caterpillars hung from the top of the container in a “J” form.

By day 12 all four of them were hanging form the top in their chrysalis’.  And on day 14 we opened he container and gently moved the piece of paper under the lid that they were hanging from.  I pinned it onto the mesh sides of the butterfly house.

 Finally on day 20 one emerged from the chrysalis. Then a few days later we set them free outside.

Catch Your Own Caterpillars

We also caught our own caterpillars and put them in our butterfly house to see what would happen. 

We caught 3 that looked the same and had formed cocoons by the next morning.  We also caught 2 other types of caterpillars that we had to feed leaves for a week.  Since they were in the grass when we found them we took a few leaves from the different trees in our yard to see which type they would eat.  Then we added new leaves from that tree every day.

The moths came out of the cocoons about 18 days after they made them.   

The Butterfly House 

We also took a trip to the St. Louis Butterfly House.  They had tons of beautiful butterflies and flowers.

 The boys really enjoyed seeing all the different types of butterflies.

They also had a chrysalis viewing area.  We saw one butterfly hanging on his empty chrysalis pumping his wings.

There was a 15 minute video to watch about the life of a butterfly and a world map outline that showed where different types of butterflies lived.

Outside there was a huge stone caterpillar that they boys could play on.

The whole visit was only about an hour, but it was fun to see all the different kids of butterflies, my favorite was the blue morpho butterfly (I didn’t get a picture of one with open wings though).

Here are some of our other Elementary Unit Studies:

Preschool “Love, Joy, Peace” Canvas Painting

I placed letter stickers in the bottom corner of the canvas to spell a word. Then I had the kids choose their colors of paint and make long strokes of paint all the way across the canvas.

After they were happy with their canvas, I gently peeled off the letter stickers.

Their finished canvas’s turned out beautifully…

I have other fun Preschool posts too:

Christmas Sugar Cookies

We made Christmas sugar cookies for a family activity tonight.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1 ½ cup white sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda

Directions:

  1. In a bowl cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth.
  2. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir till soft dough forms.
  3. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
  4. Roll the dough on a floured surface.
  5. Use cookie cutters to cut out Christmas shapes.
  6. Grease a pan and place the shapes of dough on the pan.
  7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
  8. Bake cookies for 8 minutes or until lightly browned.

Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup Crisco
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon milk (if thick)

Directions:

  1. Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
  2. Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
  3. Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses -11

Our family Thanksgiving tradition is making Gingerbread Houses. This year we used graham crackers, we also tried chocolate graham crackers. I made buttercream icing to add the candies.

Buttercream Icing

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup Crisco
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (2 lbs)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon milk (if thick)

Directions:

  1. Cream together the butter and Crisco with a mixer.
  2. Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time.
  3. Add the vanilla, if it seems too thick you can add a bit of milk.

Here are some of our past Gingerbread Houses.

Halloween Bonfire -11

We had a Halloween Bonfire again this year.  This time we set up a table outside with all the pumpkin carving tools and told people to bring their own pumpkins to carve. The boys actually helped us gut the pumpkins this year… in the past they have said it was too slimy for them. T really like looking at the candles in them. It was fun making jack-o-lanterns together!

We roasted hot dogs and smores too. This was the biggest bonfire that we have ever had, was a fun time!

I bought caramel apples this year instead of making them… they were much better! J just LOVES caramel apples!

Check out our fun Halloween Bonfire from last year!

Surprise Adoption Party

My in-laws finalized the adoption of their 2 girls this past week, so we had a surprise ice cream party for them!!!

I made a family tree poster with our fingerprints. Everyone in our family added their fingerprint as the leaves on the tree. We also had new family photos taken to include the girls. I made a banner that said “Welcome to our Family” too.

Ice cream sundaes! We had several different flavors of ice cream and tons of different topping choices of fruit and candies. We wanted to make this the most special thing to celebrate the girls!

I made “Our 2 Sweethearts” sign/ banner with my Cricut.

Welcome to the family… we love you!