DIY Tissue Paper Orbs

For a formal ball I helped organize and decorate I made these tissue paper orbs. So SIMPLE!
1. Blow up a balloon to desired SIZE. (I choose to keep the balloon shape as round as possible.)
2. With Modge Podge or watered down Elmers glue, hold the knot on the balloon and paint on a thin coat.
3. Apply tissue paper, one sheet at a time. I found it was SO much easier to cut my tissue paper sheets into fourths before starting so that I was working with smaller surfaces when I applied glue. The tissue paper will stick easily and in some spots SATURATE from the glue. No worries, this is a layered project and you'll have plenty of time to get the orb all covered up.
4. Keep this pattern going, glue and more tissue paper until you've reached consistent coverage on the balloon. I worked my top edges so that they'd be random and more like a tulip using the corners of the paper.
5. Tie up that balloon and let it dry. It only took about an hour. After it's completely dry, pop the balloon. Any parts of the orb that indent can be reshaped with no trouble and they look lovely.
6. Use an electric light! You can see the difference my larger and ticker orb made with the light verses smaller an thiner.

SIMPLE SECRET for happy plants

I have a confession... I have a long history of plant abuse. I'm not proud of it, but admitting this has made all the difference. I had no desire to be responsible for any additional life forms at this point in my personal life. Hence, no dogs/cats/etc, humans are tough enough. Enter my SENSATIONAL discovery...

The SECRET to happy plants and happy caregivers! Whoever thought of this first is a genius! My SWEET hubs gave me this beautiful orchid and on the tag it instructed to feed it 3 ice cubes a week for the best care. WHAAAAAAT!?! No mess, no watering can, kid-friendly chore SOLUTION?!? Hurray!


My happy orchid is on month 3 of life and is still going STRONG! Thank you ice cubes!
SIDE note: My poinsettias are also blissfully happy... That's right I have bumped up my plant life to 3, read that 3 plants. Me "The Plant Murderer". I'm so happy for my ice cubes. :)

a fresh SPIN on green bean casserole

1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed and trimmed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium red onion diced
12 ounces mushrooms sliced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken broth rench fried onions for topping

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.


 In a large skillet ove medium low heat slowly melt butter and allow it to brown. add onions and saute slowly to carmelize. This takes about 20 minutes, low and slow is the key here.While the onions are cooking bring water and 2 tablespoons of salt to a boil in a large saucepan.  While waiting for water to boil prepare a large bowl of ice water. Blanch  beans for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately plunge the beans into ice bath to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.
Once onions are carmelized add the mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to give up some of their liquid, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and nutmeg and continue to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute. Add the broth and simmer for 1 minute. Add the half-and-half and cook until the mixture thickens, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in all of the green beans. Top with the french fried onions. Place into the oven and bake until bubbly, approximately 15 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.

a SUPERLATIVE ending for everyone

Is finding the perfect dessert for Thanksgiving difficult in your family? It is in mine... I always want to try SOMETHING unique and different which my Dad hates, My mom likes pie, but not the SAME kinds as  my brother, who likes chocolate and my husband likes cheesecake ... You get the idea. SO my SOLUTION this is is... pumpkin gooey butter cake! if the name doesn't just make you want to cry, how about the idea that it is, for the most part, a mix between cheesecake, cake and pie.. SURE to please very palette! If you have never heard of gooey butter cake it is native to St. Louis and is made in many different flavors. Paula Deen makes them a lot and has made them more popular. This is a recipe based off of hers. I chose pumpkin cause its the obvious Thanksgiving choice but SUBSTITUTIONS are welcomed!

For the crust
1 box spiced cake mix
1 egg
8 Tablespoons melted butter

For the filling:
1 (8-ounce) brick of softened cream cheese
1 (15-ounce) can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
8 Tablespoons melted butter
12-14 oz powdered sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg


Mix together the cake mix, melted butter, and the egg. Press the crust mixture into a 9×13 pan coated with cooking spray. Blend together the cream cheese and pumpkin. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the butter, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. mix then slowly add in the powdered sugar. I do closer to 12, just taste it and see how sweet you want it. Mix until combined. Pour over crust and bake at 350 for 40 to 50 minutes. Make sure not to over bake, the center should be a little gooey. Cool slightly...Top with whipped cream and devour!

This is a great base recipe... SWITCH out the type of cake mix, SPICES and pumpkin for any other SIMILAR ingredient and prepare the SAME way... chocolate cake with peanut butter... yellow cake with and kind of fruit instead of pumpkin... the possibilities are endless!!

1 SINGULAR SENSATION

Are you responsible for the STAR of the SHOW this Thanksgiving? I have been responsible for the  tryptophan inducing delight we all love for the past 10 years or SO and I think I have pretty much perfected it. SO here you go...

• If you purchase a frozen bird thaw completely before anything else.  Here are the time requirements to thaw a turkey in the fridge. (p.s. I have always had better results from a fresh turkey)

8 to 12 lbs. 2 to 3 Days
13 to 16 lbs. 3 to 4 Days
17 to 20 lbs. 4 to 5 Days
21 to 24 lbs. 5 to 6 Days

• For moist turkey like you have never had before you must brine your turkey. This is the best recipe ever by Alton Brown. 

1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 1/2 teaspoons allspice berries
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped candied ginger
1 cup kosher salt
1 gallon heavily iced water

2 to 3 days before roasting:

     Combine the vegetable stock, salt, brown sugar, peppercorns, allspice berries, and candied ginger in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally to dissolve solids and bring to a boil. Then remove the brine from the heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate.
The night before you'd like to eat:
     Combine the brine, water and ice in the 5-gallon bucket. I bought a 5 gallon paint bucket from Home Depot (new of course) and it is my designated brining vessel! Be sure to get the lid too! Place the thawed turkey (with innards removed) breast side down in brine. If necessary, weigh down the bird to ensure it is fully immersed, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area for 8 to 16 hours, turning the bird once half way through brining. I put in in the garage with the lid on tight! I usually do 12-16 hours, don't do it too long or the meat will become mealy.

• Dry, Dry, Dry  Once the brining step is complete about an hour before it needs to go in the oven, remove it from the brine and dry the turkey, and I mean dry. The dryer the better. Let it drip as long as it will then wrap it in a dry clean towel. Put it in a dry SINK and let it SIT for a while. Then I use about an entire roll of paper towels patting the SKIN until it is dry. Did I mention the SKIN has to be totally dry? I am making this a big deal because it is. If the SKIN is not dry, it will not brown or crisp.
• If your turkey has a pop thermometer remove it. Never rely on these. They are made to pop at 185-190 degree F and  don't take into account that meat will rise 25 degrees or more after it has been removed from the oven. You want to remove your turkey from the oven at 161 degrees F and let it reach 185 degrees during this carry over cooking time. It is best to invest in a good thermometer that has a alarm that SOUNDS when the SET temperature is reached. Insert thermometer into the hole the pop thermometer was in. Be careful not to touch a bone with the thermometer probe. It will cause inaccurate readings.
• DO NOT STUFF, FILL... I know I know It is my favorite part too. I'm not SAYING don't have STUFFING I'm just demanding that you cook it separate. WHY? Well other than that the best part od the STUFFING  is the crusty top which cooking by itself gives you lots more crustification SURFACE,  if you put the stuffing in the turkey you have to cook the turkey for at least 7 minutes longer per pound... AKA choosing between over cooked dry turkey or possible food poisoning. I don't want either thank you...   Instead fill the cavity of the turkey with the following.. 

1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage
Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon STICK, and 1 cup of water in a microwave SAFE dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes. Add herbs and fill cavity.

• Everyone loves a massage... even your turkey. Melt 4 T of butter and mix in 1 T of poultry seasoning. Gently SEPERATE the SKIN from the breast but don't remove it. You just want to be able to get your hand between the SKIN and the breast meat. Your goal is to rub that melted butter on the turkey breast between the breast SKIN and the meat.  Then tuck in SOME fresh SAGE and rosemary in. 
• Tie the drumstick ends together, and  tuck the wings underneath the turkey.
• Rub any excess butter on the SKIN evenly. If there is none left you don't need it.      
• Place turkey breast down on a rack in a roasting pan and roast on lowest rack 475 for 20 minutes. You want your turkey at room temperature when it goes in. This ensures even cooking.
• Reduce heat to 250 and roast until it reaches 161 degrees.
• Remove from the oven and carefully flip over. If breast area is not browned enough you can turn the broiler on and put it back in on the bottom rack again but watch it very carefully it will go fast!
• Lightly cover with tin foil and rest for 20 minutes... DO NOT SKIP THIS!!! Rely on your thermometer for doneness and don't cut into it or remove the thermometer until it is done resting. This allows the juices to redistribute which means it STAYS in the meat and goes in your mouth instead of all over the platter!

Here is a chart for estimated cook times, but keep in mind all ovens are different and elevation can change cooking time too, SO I SAY it again... get yourself a good thermometer and when it saySAYS  it's done, it's done!

10 lbs.  3 hours 20 minutes
11 lbs.  3 hours 40 minutes
12 lbs.  4 hours
13 lbs.  4 hours 20 minutes
14 lbs.  4 hours 40 minutes
15 lbs.  5 hours 
16 lbs.  5 hours 20 minutes
17 lbs.  5 hours 40 minutes
18 lbs.  6 hours
19 lbs.  6 hours 20 minutes
20 lbs.  6 hours 40 minutes
** From experience I have learned if you need more than about 12 pounds of meat it is much better to make two SMALLER turkeys than one big one. The bigger the turkey the longer its in the oven and the better chance you have of drying it out, plus 2  12 pound turkeys will actually give you more meat than 1  24 pounder!

petrifying pudding

I SAW this in a Kraft magazine once and has been a big hit everytime i have made them. This original recipe SHOWS frankenstein monsters but I have done Jack o Lanterns and other monsters too. You could do any kind of character you want with different colors and flavors of pudding.

recipe-
SEMI SWEET Chocolate chips melted
2 cups cold milk
6 drops green food coloring
1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
8 OREO Cookies, crushed

melt chocolate in microwave as directed on package. Use a clean small paint brush to paint a monster face on the inside of each of  plastic cups with the melted chocolate. Refrigerate until ready to use.

add milk and food coloring to dry pudding mix in medium bowl. Beat until well blended. Immediately pour into prepared cups.

top with the cookie crumbs. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.

* you could use a pretzel STICK for a STEM if you do the pumpkin or different topping depending on what character you do... be creative and have fun with this easy STRESS free dessert!

phantom feet

My very clever cousin did this adorable craft with her kids to give to their daddy for Halloween. I think it is absolutely adorable! All you have to do is get a black paper or canvas and STAMP your families feet with white paint. Turn it upside down and paint on eyes and a mouth to look like a ghost. You can put each family members name under each one and the year if you want. SO SIMPLE and SO fun for the whole family to do together. It also gives you a great Halloween decoration for years to come!!!