Apple Pie Kit + Printable

I'm praying you are not sick of the apple pie thing.  I promise today is the last day of all things apple pie.  But this one is short, quick, and super cute.

I have a thing for putting things in a little kit.  It makes ordinary things cute.  It's true. So this super easy apple pie kit would make a great teacher or hostess gift this fall.

Paper Bag Apple Pie

So as promised I told you I would show you my pie. Isn't that the craziest name for a pie?  I came across this recipe in a magazine years ago, copied it down and made it because I was so intrigued by the title. You literally bake it inside a paper bag. I tried it and it has become a family favorite.

Peaches and Basil... Amazing Together!

 Thought I would share one of my favorite summertime yummy goodness treats!

 I found this recipe in Real Simple (original recipe at link) several years ago and when I tried it I was in taste bud heaven.

For a single serve snack, this is what I do:

1-2 ripe peaches

fresh mozzarella 

fresh basil leaves (5 or 6) torn into small pieces

A splash of olive oil

Freshly ground pepper and a pinch of sea salt

(regular table S & P is just fine)

I make this for parties all the time too. ♥

Mix it together and get ready for an amazing, tasty treat!

  I love peaches, basil, and mozzarella but the idea of salt and pepper with olive oil intrigued me.

Are YOU intrigued?

You will not be disappointed. 

 Seriously.  Go make it.  Right now. And tell me what you think. :)

A Little Foodie Fun for the Fourth!

This post needs little introduction. 
I just came up with fun food ideas and treats with a 4th of July theme.
I also share some how to's and maybe some funny mishaps along the way.
Enjoy! 


Berry Sweet Ice Cubes

You need an ice cube tray, blueberries, and strawberries cut into small pieces.

Just plop those berries in.  

(I used about 2 blueberries and 3-4 small pieces of strawberries)

When you are done...pop them in the freezer until set.

 All set!

Now pop them in a tall glass of lemonade.

Perfection.

Berry Kabobs with Yogurt Dipping Cups

Fill a small, single serve cup with vanilla yogurt.

Add blueberries, strawberries (maybe even raspberries and blackberries) on a 4 inch skewer.

 Oooh...add a some mint leaves too!

(I bet some granola for some crunch would be amazing too)
You now have some adorable red, white and blue (and a little green) single serve parfaits.

Star Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches

 Bake some sugar cookies (or your favorite cookies) and cut them into star shapes.

 Pour some happy Red, White, and Blue Sprinkles on a plate!

 Scoop some ice cream on a cookie.

Smoosh another cookie on top to make a sandwich.

Dip it in the sprinkles.

Yummy 4th of July cookie sandwiches.

 Ice cream and cookies. Produces happy and somewhat hyper children. :)

 Flag Cookies On a Stick

 But these were so cute and since I did them with the girls I wanted to share.
Even though I did every bit of the icing and could totally lie to you and tell you they did it.
I try but I simply have zero skills in the cookie, cake, and cupcake decorating department.
I embrace this truth with humility.
I actually have a flag cookie cutter but I wanted mine on an actual stick so I just hand cut the flags and folded the end over a lollipop stick.
I just always make my cookies too thick so they end up looking like square pancakes.
Here is me waving my puffy flag.

 I am convinced some of you can do better and I hope if you make your own cookie flags, you will share your genius with me. :)

 Mini Ice Cream Stars

Now this one is not for the faint of heart.  I must say this little idea brewing in my head was harder to carry out in real life.  I should have kept it safely there in my head.  I wanted to make little mini ice cream cakes out of star cookie cutters.  I should have known cookie cutters work best with...you know...cookies.

I bought some ice cream and um...ate some before attempting this little food feat.
Have more restraint then me.

I tore the carton off around the ice cream...

Which left me with a vanilla ice cream block.

I then sliced it like bread  in order to use the cookie cutters to make the shapes.

Um, ya'll?  Ice cream melts.
And I mean fast.  If I could have vlogged this experience for you, I would have.  It would have been entertaining...I am sure of it.

As I hyperventilated, I started cutting out the stars with my cookie cutters.

And putting them on a cookie sheet like they were hot potatoes.
And this is when it got interesting.
So I started going in warp speed trying to get a bunch of stars on my cookies sheet and it was just not working. It was melting so fast! So I decided to throw EVERYTHING in the freezer and crank up the temp to the coldest setting.  I put the cutters, my knife, everything in the freezer and then tried again.

 Most stressful dessert I have ever prepared.
I do NOT recommend it.

 But I thought you would enjoy my attempt at creativity. :)

Well that concludes my 4th of July Idea Parade!  
This was so much fun and I hope you came away with some ideas for the fourth and ideas for the Summer.
I like that a lot of these are fun for both us adults and for the kids.
Did you like it?

Thank you for your comments, sweet encouragement and friendship!
You are in my heart!

XOXO!

Linking to:
Tatertots and Jello
Show and Tell Saturdays:  Be Different, Act Normal

Summer Strawberry Vinaigrette

Yesterday, we had our neighbor friends over for dinner and they made this amazing Chicago style pizza (which I do NOT have the recipe for since it intimidates me. I mean, I was in awe of the size of pan it came in).  

But I added a salad as my contribution and decided to use this awesome Strawberry Vinaigrette recipe.  I haven't a clue where I got it but have used for several years. And it is ALWAYS a winner. Honest to goodness.

So I decided to share it with all of sweet you.  Your welcome. :)

2 pints strawberries (extra berries to garnish salad)

1 cup brown sugar

1 oz honey

1 tablespoon poppy seeds

2-3 oz. extra virgin olive oil

2 oz. cider vinegar

Combine all ingredients in processor, adding oil and vinaigrette at the end until desired consistency.

I halved this recipe last night and it still made an entire bottle of dressing.  Just so ya know. :)

For the salad, you can use whatever leafy, green, yummy stuff that you like.  All I added were cucumbers, extra strawberries and Kashi Summer Berry Granola.

Hope you enjoy it.

I am linking this recipe up to my sweet friend Keren's blog...Free Pretty Things for You. 

I Did It! I Sconed The Neighbors!

You have no idea how so many of you were with me when I baked these scones and put these together.  Your comments encouraged me and I knew that your caring words are what gave me the courage to just go out there and do it. I even went back and read through your comments several times to remind me that what was important was to be an example of Christ for my kids and for my neighbors.  I was to extend love and expect nothing back in return.

So I did.  I stopped worrying if people would like me and just decided to love them.  Nothing more Christ like then that.

And I was BLESSED!

First of all, we woke up Saturday morning with my next door neighbors having a garage sale.  Come to find out...they are moving.  I am a little sad they are leaving before we can get to know them but I am VERY excited for the opportunity to welcome the new neighbors when they arrive. And guess what...I asked them point blank if she felt weird after what happened with the dog and Cati and she admitted she was!  I marched right up to her sweet self, hugged her tight and told her I was so sorry she felt this way for the last month and we were not upset AT ALL.  Details in this post. Cati had a slight incident with their Great Dane. She's fine.

While we were outside, our new friends from down the street came by with their kids for a hello and we all spent the morning outside getting to know one another.  All the other neighbors were outside so I just took my basket of goodies and started saying hello.

It was amazing.  People were so warm and sweet.  I think it was just like a lot of you said.  Our lives get busy and people are afraid to make the first move. But once I did this, the neighborhood stopped feeling cold.  I suddenly knew names, asked about their lives, and it began to feel like a community.  And I was so happy I did it because I now I understand sometimes if I notice something that may require initiative, God may call ME to make that first step.  So be it.  He has always gone before me and He won't stop now.

We even had our new neighbor friends over for dinner and we are excited to get to know them better. Actually, they cooked it at our house because um...I need to go grocery shopping.

Thank you so much for all your kind words and feedback.  It meant so much to me that I could turn to you and ask your advice.  ALL OF YOU! You wrote so honestly and openly and it felt like a community right here on my little blog.  Soooooo...in case you would be interested, I will give you my scones recipe and the scoop about these simple treats and how I put them together. Here we go...


Chocolate Chip Scones

1 stick of butter (the original recipe I found said 6 tablespoons but one day I just threw the whole stick in there.  Simple.  Convenient. Yummy.)
2 cups flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 tablespoons of sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup of buttermilk (more if needed)
1 cup  milk chocolate chips (but I like LOTS so I put more in)
1 egg slightly beaten

Combine dry ingredients and then cut in the butter until the  mixture looks crumbly like cornmeal. I don't own a pastry cutter so I just pound it with my whisk.  Buy another whisk after you do this. After you get back, make a little well like hole in the mixture and pour the buttermilk in the well.  The key to a good scone is MINIMAL MIXING AND HANDLING.  Mix, fold, whatever it all together until just combined and add chocolate chips.  At this point, I am unconventional and do them easy by just dropping them by the spoonful on a baking sheet. Brush tops with egg..
Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes until just golden. Eat em' or give em' away. :)


The Cutie Patootie and Oh So Simple Packaging

I loved this because you can do this with ANYTHING.  Hostess, thank you, anytime of the year or occasion kind of gift.  And it was inexpensive but looked great!

Clear Treat Bags: Wal Mart $1.50 for 20 (party section)
Red Scalloped Box: Wal Mart $1.50 for 8 (party section) I was able to fit 8-10 scones in the bag and box.
Ribbon: Wal Mart $2 for 15 feet.
Clothespins and Label Background: 4th of July scrap paper I had on hand and directions from this post.
4th of July Flip Flop Printable: Go here.*
4th of July Circle cupcake topper printable: Ahhh...I can not find it for the life of me.  If any of you know please tell me so I can post the link*
 *(I realize 4th of July is over but wanted to give links back to appropriate sources)

Total Cost to me: $5

I hope all of you had a fabulous 4th of July and none of your children were as traumatized as my Ella over the neighborhood fireworks.  I believe she thought the sky was falling...the poor thing.  So glad we decided to forgo the ACTUAL fireworks extravaganza and stay home. 

Thanks for being great friends to me!