My Thanksgiving tradition is to make Gingerbread houses; so I decided to build them with my nieces and nephews this year. It was so much fun, now there are 11 cousins and J is the oldest!
We used Graham Crackers and Waffle Cones for our Gingerbread Houses and Christmas Trees this year.
I used a pear for the Turkey’s body and then cut up fruit to place around the pear for the Turkey’s feathers. These cousins just LOVE fruit.
I read “The Night Before Thanksgiving” to the cousins before bed… It is a great book with cousins and other extended family members. These cousins just love reading too.
My sweet, wonderful boy is growing up so fast. He loves science, Legos, and cousins. J is 9 years old this year and his best friend and cousin is 8. Their birthday’s are just 3 weeks apart and they both love Legos so they had a joint party this year. J’s aunt and I had fun planning another party together.
All the kids colored Lego minifig coloring sheets and we hung them up to make a banner.
J made a Lego container to hold the forks. We covered the juice boxes with construction paper and added dots to look like Legos.
We wrapped some of the gifts to look like Legos too.
J got a few new Lego sets and the Lego Movie.
J gave his cousin a watch for his birthday.
The boys had fun putting their Legos together with Papa.
We played Lego games too.
J’s aunt made cookies to look like Legos and Minifig marshmallow pops.
To start the Lego cake I found a Lego font in a Google search. Then I printed out the boys name and colored it to look like the Lego logo.
Then I used my homemade marshmallow fondant to create edible names that look like the Lego logo.
Next I used candy melts to create the candy Lego bricks and minifigs with my silicone Lego molds.
Then I made the cake with colored white cake mix in my checkered cake pans.
Next I made my butter cream frosting green and frosted the cake. I added the candy bricks around the boarder of the cake.
Then placed the green fondant on the top portion of the cake and added the name Lego logos on top.
Marshmallow Fondant Recipe
Ingredients:
16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
3 TBSP water
2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
Crisco
Directions:
Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
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.
Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
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.
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.
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.
Then I placed a thin piece of yellow fondant around the cake above the bricks and set the minifigs on it.
Then I placed the #8 and #9 candles that I had.
Happy Birthday, my growing boy!!!
He wrote about his Lego party the next day in writing class…
My Mother-in-law loves to play the Hay Day app so we threw her a surprise party. Here is the link to the Android Hay Day App and here is the link to the Apple Hay Day app. The truth is almost every adult in this family plays Hay Day… My in-laws, 3 of their sons, and 2 of their son’s wives.
I made tissue paper pom-pom farm animals and a birthday banner for decorations.
We grilled for dinner. I attempted to make deviled eggs that looked like chicks hatching. I also made carrots out of green silverware and orange napkins.
I printed out the images from the Hay Day wiki for the signs that are on the table.
Juice Press: apple juice, lemonade
BBQ Grill: hamburgers, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and pork steaks, cornbread
Salad Bar: lettuce, olives, cheese, bacon bits, carrots, tomatoes
She got a favorite book as a gift and read it to the grandkids.
Then we had dessert. I had cow pies (chocolate covered nuts), haystacks, and blackberry muffins.
Pie Oven: mini pie crust with pudding to put in them, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries
Ice Cream Maker: vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream cones with blackberry jam as a topping
Last I made her favorite yellow cake with chocolate frosting to look like a pig pen. I made the pigs with pink marshmallow fondant. I put KitKats all around the cake and made little flowers and grass around the outside with colored butter cream frosting. I made the ladder with tootsie rolls.
T turned 4 this year! He loves the minions on Despicable Me so we chose that as his birthday theme this year. I layered his cake with blueberry and yellow cakes then frosted it with butter cream before I added the fondant.
Marshmallow Fondant Recepie
Ingredients:
16 oz. Mini Marshmallows
3 TBSP water
2 lbs Powdered Sugar (4 cups)
Crisco
Directions:
Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
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.
Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
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.
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.
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.
We also had banana splits since the Minions seem to love bananas.
I made these marshmallow minions with yellow candy melts.
I cut up banana pieces and let the kids dip them in the chocolate fountain then dip them in a topping.
I used yellow cups, electrical tape, and googly eyes for these cute Minion cups.
We also had a pinyata.
For lunch we had stuffed crust pizza… “Oooo Stuffed Crust” (that’s one of the boys favorite lines in the movie.)We also had a pinyata.
I also found these Minion snacks.
I made Minions out of plastic Easter eggs and filled them with banana Runts.
Then I made these cute balloons too.
Time for presents! I used Minion Duct Tape around the bottom of a plastic blue table cloth for the tables.
My sister-in-law, Cloninger Photography, did a great job with his birthday pictures again this year.
The boys and I made a yummy dessert and fun Father’s Day cards for their Daddy!
“I Love You This Much” Card
First the boys traced and cut out 2 hand prints. Next we wrote, “I love you…” on the hands.
Next we cut a strip of paper and wrote “This Much” on it. Then we folded it back and forth over and over.
Finally we glue the strip in between the two hand prints.
Superman Father’s Day Card
First fold two sides of a piece of paper in to meet in the middle.
Fold down the corners of the top to look like triangles.
Next we cut out a tie shape and glued it to one side of the folded front. Then we glued 3 buttons to the other side of the folded front.
On the inside at the top we wrote, “DAD” and put a Superman emblem in the middle.
Oreo Brownie Cookie Bars
First press down some cookie dough into a baking pan.
Then add Oreo’s to cover the cookie dough.
Last we add the brownie batter to the top of the Oreo’s.
Bake and enjoy with ice cream!
Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie Oreo Brownie Bars
Ingredients:
Package of Brownie Mix (+the eggs, oil and water needed for that!)
Package of Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix (I opted to make the Original Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough from scratch! If you go this route – use a little less flour than you normally would to keep the cookies moist.)
Package of Oreos (regular or Double Stuffed – you choose!)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×9 baking pan with wax paper or foil and spray with cooking spray. (You can opt for a 13×9 pan if you want thinner bars.)
2. Make your cookie dough whichever way you like and spread in the bottom of the pan. If you are making a full batch of homemade Toll House cookie dough, you will only need half the batch!
3. Cover your cookie dough with Oreo cookies.
4. Whip up your brownie mix and pour evenly over the Oreo cookies.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.
6. Cool for 5 minutes and then enjoy! Add some ice cream to completely put this indulgence over the top!
My sister and I have built gingerbread houses on Thanksgiving since we were teenagers. Now we live 2000 miles apart so this is the first time we have made them together in years; and we got to involve our kids too.
T is already 3 and totally into firemen and firetrucks. He will constantly begin his stories with, “When I was on my firetruck…” So he got a fireman birthday party this year. I called the local fire department and got a tour of the fire house and firetrucks. We met at the fire house for the start of the party and then headed over to our house for dinner, games, and dessert.
One of his favorite things about firemen is that they work with hoses so he was excited to hold the fire hose.
Another one of his favorite things about firemen is that they get to climb up ladders so he was excited to climb on the ladder to the firetruck too.
I gave the kids water balloons to throw through a flaming ring (hola hoop covered with shredded plastic table cloth).
The also got to extinguish foam flames with a squirt gun fire extinguisher.
And he had fun climbing the ladder to rescue the cat.
I found a fire hydrant sprinkler for the kids to play in too.
I set out firetruck to play with.
We roasted hot dogs and hand watermelon and corn on the cob too. (I liked that the watermelon and corn matched the color theme I had going on.)
T got a new firetruck for a gift.
I made flaming cupcakes. I made yellow cake batter with red swirls in it, then I frosted it with orange flames. We also had a smores bar with 3 different kinds of chocolate, grahams, and marshmallows.
And of course I had fire hoses (licorice) for T.
And fireman ladders to eat. I melted chocolate and dipped pretzel rods in it and then pretzel sticks for the rungs of the ladder.
My sister-in-law, Cloninger Photography, did an awesome job with his photos again this year.
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
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and let it stand for about 10 minutes (should look creamy).
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).
When the dough forms a ball, dump it onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes (until smooth).
Lightly oil a large bowl and place the dough in the bowl. Turn the bowl until the dough has been covered with oil.
Cover it with a damp cloth for about 40 minutes in a warm place. It should rise to about double it’ size.
Punch down the dough, and divide it into 8 equal parts.
Shape each part into a round ball about 4 inches in diameter.
Lightly grease a baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal.
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.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a small bowl beat egg white and 1 tbl water.
Lightly brush the dough with the egg wash.
Bake for 15 minutes then brush with more egg wash again.
Bake fore 10 more minutes and then let cool.
Cut about 1/2 inch in around the bowl. Cut with your knife straight down about 3/4 inch from the bottom.
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
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Lightly grease a 8×8 casserole dish.
Stir the corns, flour, salt, pepper, and sugar together.
Whisk the eggs and milk in a separate bowl.
Add the egg to the corn and stir.
Add the butter and stir.
Pour into casserole dish.
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
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Toss all ingredients and place them in a small dish.
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
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Grease cupcake pan.
Stir together dry ingredients.
Use a different bowl to mix your wet ingredients.
Add the wet to the dry ingredients and mix like batter.
Pour batter into cupcake pan and bake for about 15 minutes.
Check with a toothpick.
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
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
Knead butter into mixture with your fingers (should look like a crumbly mixture).
Stir in sugar.
Add milk and lemon juice and stir until dough forms.
Place the dough on a lightly floured surface and roll out about 1/2 inch thick.
Cut out 2 inch squares and place on a cookie sheet.
Criss-cross each square from corner to corner with a pizza cutter (don’t cut all the way though just the tops).
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
In a saucepan heat sweetened condensed milk, butter and Nesquick on medium heat.
Stir continuously for about 10 minutes, until it’s thick enough to show the bottom of the pan.
Pour the mixture into a lightly greased dish and let it cool for about an hour.
Grease your hands and roll into 1 inch balls.
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
Beat cream cheese until fluffy.
Beat in the milk until smooth.
Stir in lemon juice and vanilla.
Pour into the crust.
Chill for 3 hours.
Top with cherries.
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)
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.
Break off about 1/4 of the wafers and press them into the sides of the frosted cake.
Wash the fruit and arrange the berries on the top of the cake.
Refrigerate the leftovers.
I found a few Lord of the Rings gifts that I thought he would like.
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:
Grease a large glass bowl with Crisco.
Pour in the marshmallows and water; then microwave at 30- second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted.
Reserve about 1/4 cup of the powdered sugar. Place the red of the powdered sugar in a large bowl of a standing mixer.
Grease the paddle attachment with Crisco and pour in the melted marshmallows on top of the powdered sugar.
Beat until a dough form; there will be a lot of loose bits and sugar in the bottom of the bowl.
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.
Grease hands again as needed. As the fondant becomes smoother, use the reserved powdered sugar to coat the surface to keep it from sticking.
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.
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.
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!
