My Lil' Apple Dumpling

So I came across a Yummy recipe on Pinterest for apple dumplings.

It sounded SO yummy I knew I had to try it!  Luckily, my Bonus Mom, Judy, left me some apples when she and dad and lil bro headed back to Texas after Christmas.  She had intended to whip up a batch of her version of apple dumplings that sounds absolutely scrumptious (I will be sure to pass along all the info when we do get together to make them).  Anyway, seeing as I had all the ingredients on hand to make the Pinterest recipe I thought I would give it a go.

First though, I want to give a shout out to the cute blog that the original pin led me to.  After reading all about these dumplings I started reading a few of her other posts and just loved her blog!  I know it is going to be one you will want to follow.  She has great ideas and I'm glad I found her and, of course, I now follow her too!

Okay Back to these delish Apple Dumplings.  I took her recipe and I did it again...I tweaked it to suit my family's taste, and, let me tell you I dont know how it tastes without my additions, but my final result was SOOOOOOO good!!!

Okay Okay,I can hear you screaming at me with your thoughts to get on with it already.  I do have a warning though....there are a lot of pictures...ummm I mean A LOT.  I couldn't help it, I promise!!  I talked my son and hubby into helping (well actually I talked hubby into it, and son wouldn't stay out of the way so I put him to work too.  Cause, its fun ya know?!?!) and I HAD to record their part in this endeavor too (otherwise you probably wouldn't believe it huh?)!!

Anyway the warning has been given and here comes the good part: The actual recipe not just me rambling (although there probably needs to be a warning number two that there more than likely WILL be more rambling...I just cant seem to help it tonight.  Sorry).

You will need:

9x13 pan

Two sticks of butter

1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar

 ok I have a secret to share...I kinda have a thing for measuring cups...

 I know its crazy, but I probably have 5 or 6 sets of them!!  

And Judy got me another set for Christmas this year!  i love them and thats the set I'm using int hese pictures sooo THANKS Judy!  and as you can see I'm using your gift.

1tsp vanilla extract

2 tubes of crescent rolls (8 in each tube)

2-3 apples (depending on the size of the apple and the size slices you would like

cinnamon

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 nut of your choice

1 12oz can of a light colored lemon type soda 

**optional- vanilla ice cream**

Firs, you will need to pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Next, go ahead and grease/spray nonstick in your 9x13 pan and set aside

Then, you will take your clean apples and begin to slice them. You will need at least 16 slices

You can make them however thick you want, just go for it.  I had some that were roughly a fourth of the small apples I was using to an eighth of one.  They all were delicious, but personally next time I think I will use 1/4 of the apple slices if the apples are as small as the ones I used tonight because I like more apple than crust in my dumplings.

Now, take your two sticks of butter and melt them using your favorite method

I use the microwave, but if your a stove-top gal or oven melter, go for it

After your butter is completely melted, you will add in the one and a half cups of sugar and the tsp of vanilla extract mixing well. Set this aside for later use.

 Check out my little helper... isn't he cute? I sure think so!

He thought it would be a great idea to taste test the sugar after dumping it

Then playing drums with the measuring cups seemed like an even better idea

Okay, back to the cooking process of mixing all the stuff up in the bowl

Now, take your tubes of crescent rolls and open one separating the rolls away one at a time and rolling a slice of apple in it.  then place it into the greased 9x13 pan.  Repeat this until both tubes of crescent rolls have been used up and you have 16 little crescent wrapped apple dumplings.

Now, you are going to pour your butter/sugar/vanilla mixture over the top of these apple crescent rolls/dumplings using a utensil to smooth it out evenly.

Next, take your cinnamon and sprinkle your desired amount over the top.

Here's my additions to this recipe:

Now, take you firmly packed 1/3 cup of brown sugar and sprinkle it over the top

In the spirit of complete honesty I am showing you first how my counter really looks after I put brown sugar in the measuring cup and pack it down...yeeeaaahhh not exactly tidy is it??

And look what we have here...a lovely shot of a 1/3 cup of packed down brown sugar WITHOUT the messy spillage.  hmmmmmmm 

And just in case you were wondering, this is how I sprinkle my brown sugar. I dump it into my hand and crumble it up and sprinkle all over.  Easy peezy

Then, do the same with your third cup of nuts

Finally, you are going to pop the tab on your soda and pour half of it over the entire mixture.  

The original recipe calls for the entire can to be poured over the top, but it made it WAY too juicy when the dumplings were finished.  Honestly, I don't really even see the need for this step, but having not made these with out the full can I am going to include it as is in the original.  I will make a batch without it, and let you know soon if it made it flop or made an improvement.

Now, you are ready to pop this into your pre-heated oven and leave it for 35-40 minutes.

After the proper amount of time has elapsed take it out and let it cool.  Then dish up all this yummy-ness in to a bowl, and prepare to start sighing and moaning over it.  My hubby ran to the store while it was in the oven and picked up some vanilla ice cream.  Let me tell you YUMM!!!! 

Okay so that's it.  The whole thing.  Its rockin awesome, and I hope you give it a try!  I would love to hear all about your results so don't forget to come let me know how it turned out for you! I love hearing all that kind of stuff!

Have a great day and God Bless!

At request from friends & followers I will be adding all recipes in a printable format at the end of my foodie posts.

Apple Dumplings

Mommy x 3= Insanity 

You will need:

9x13 pan

Two sticks of butter

1 1/2 cups white granulated sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

2 tubes of crescent rolls (8 in each tube)

2-3 apples (depending on the size of the apple and the size slices you would like)

cinnamon

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 nut of your choice

1 12oz can of a light colored lemon type soda 

**optional- vanilla ice cream**

First you will need to pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Next go ahead and grease/spray nonstick in your 9x13 pan and set aside

Then you will take your clean apples and begin to slice them. You will need at least 16 slices

You can make them however thick you want, just go for it.  I had some that were roughly a fourth of the small apples I was using to an eighth of one.  They all were delicious, but personally next time I think I will use 1/4 of the apple slices if the apples are as small as the ones I used tonight because I like more apple than crust in my dumplings.

Now take your two sticks of butter and melt them using your favorite method

I use the microwave, but if your a stove-top gal or oven melter, go for it

After your butter is completely melted you will add in the one and a half cups of sugar and the tsp of vanilla extract mixing well. Set this aside for later use.

Now take your tubes of crescent rolls and open one separating the rolls away one at a time and rolling a slice of apple in it.  then place it into the greased 9x13 pan.  Repeat this until both tubes of crescent rolls have been used up and you have 16 little crescent wrapped apple dumplings.

Now you are going to pour your butter/sugar/vanilla mixture over the top of these apple crescent rolls/dumplings using a utensil to smooth it out evenly.

Next take your cinnamon and sprinkle your desired amount over the top.

Here's my additions to this recipe:

Now take you firmly packed 1/3 cup of brown sugar and sprinkle it over the top

Then do the same with your 1/3 cup of nuts

Finally you are going to pop the tab on you soda and pour half of it over the entire mixture.  

The original recipe calls for the entire can to be poured over the top, but it made it WAY too juicy when the dumplings were finished.  Honestly, I don't really even see the need for this step, but having not made these with out the full can I am going to include it as is in the original.  I will make a batch without it, and let you know soon if it made it flop or made an improvement.

Now you are ready to pop this into your pre-heated oven and leave it for 35-40 minutes.

Enjoy,

Chantelle

Whisking everyone a merry Kissmas

I want to share with you the gift I gave both our neighbors and our church's Sunday School department teachers and aids.

I found this adorable idea on Pinterest, of course. 

(feel free to follow me on Pinterest by clicking on the button on my sidebar ----->) 

Its was created by a wonderful blog called making memories with your kids.

I LOVED the idea and quickly set to work gathering all the supplies to make SEVERAL of these....ummm I'm talking my kids and I whipped out roughly 23.  I gave them to all our Sunday School Teachers & Aids, and I made a different tag to give to all our neighbors.

I started the project by having my 6yr old help me stuff the whisks with kisses.

A word of advice this only works well with the small and medium sized whisks, but they fall out of the large whisk so you will need to take a handful, wrap them in plastic wrap, and then insert them into the large whisk.  Also be aware that not all of the kisses in the bag will make it into the whisks.  Somehow they make it into the helpers mouths, of course that's all part of the fun.

Next I took some red packaging ribbon.

And attached my tag to the loop at the top of the whisk.

This particular tag was the one made for our Neighbor gifts.  The tags made for the Sunday School teachers were different and more of a "Thank You" for all their hard work.  The tags can be made anyway you like to fit the recipient or you can use the printable I have included.

Here's a generic printable tag for you to use should you decide to do this next year

I printed mine in 3x5 inch tags, but you can configure yours to make any size you like.  

I hope you like this idea as much as I did, and as much as all the recipients did as well!

Have a great day and God Bless!

Crazy Holidays

I dont know about around your house, but around here it has been Ca-Ra-ZY!
We have shopped, wrapped, practiced, sang, read the Word of God, organized, laughed, cleaned, unwrapped, cleaned, spent time Worshiping Christ, laughed, and generally had a great time!

I have also been buring up the vinyl with my cricut machine, and having a great time making some gifts for family, friends, and neighbors.  I can't wait to share them all with you.  "Whats the hold up?!?" you ask. Well basically, since I'm pretty sure a couple of the ones who havent recieved their gift yet read my blog, I just can't bare to spoil the surprise for them before they receive their gifts. So it's going to be a few days before one is posted, and then again a little over a week for another one.

I am going to share something I just threw together (out of Necessity).  I have a sweet (but mean when crossed, or feels his toys are being poached by his older sister, and justifiably so) two year old little boy.  Who is a lovable cuddly independent prickly little man.  This little boy received the EXACT same gift as each of his big sisters this year from their grandmother.  A personal dvd player.

In theory, and yes reality, this is a great gift that will end the bickering over which dvd they are going to watch on the long road trips we take to see family and friends back in Texas. BUT, they are IDENTICAL dvd players.  Not good for this very defensive little boy who doesn't yet quite understand that everything he sees, and wants, isn't magically his (he is still very much in that "toddler" mentality and is just now slowly coming out of it).  So to prevent any hair pulling (his sisters), being pinched (his skin, their fingers), or hitting (they all do that) I came up with an ingenious idea for who's is who's.  I pulled out my Cricut that I have been having SO much fun with this year, a fun cartridge, my red vinyl, and got busy.

Now you are probably wondering the same thing my friends and family, that were watching on with great interest and amazement, asked me..."Uhhhhh....you know your putting that on upside down right?!?!?"  To which I replied (rolling my eyes) "Ummmm NO. I'm. Not.  SEE?!?!?!?"

To which, after seeing it with the lid opened, they said "OOOOOhhhhhh, That's cool!!!" 

I am pretty pleased with the result, and so is my Lil' man.  Oh, and the end result was completly achieved: there has been no bickering over the dvd players!  SCORE!!  We wont mention the 3DS's or the trains and all the other new Christmas goodies they now have to bicker over.  Nope, wont mention them AT ALL!

I hope everyone had a VERY merry Christmas, and will have an AWESOME new year!

Have a great Day and God Bless!

Oh Christmas Tree Shirt, Oh Christmas Tree Shirt How Lovely Are Your Branches

Recently my Girls did a really fun craft at school.  It was a Hand Print Christmas Tree Shirt. They turned out so cute and since I was there for most of the creative process I thought I would share their beautiful results and the process so you can make one of your own.

First take a shirt or sweatshirt and insert a piece of cardboard inside of it so that the paint wont bleed through to the other side.

Next paint the children's hands completely green 

(this is Macey's wonderful Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Keeton)

(they LOVE this!!)

Next begin slowly and firmly pressing their hands to the shirt with the fingers pointing to the bottom of the shirt and splayed out wide to give a "branch" effect. Alternate hands for the "branches"  to look good on the sides of the tree.

When they are done with this wash all hands, faces, counters, clothes, and anything else they managed to get paint on, and set the shirts to the side to dry.

After the green paint has completely dried use a sponge you have cut into the shape of a star to place a star at the top of the tree.  Or just use ribbon to make a bow and add it to the top in the next step.  whatever your preference.

After they have completely dried (I would give it overnight at the very least) you will start gluing on your decorations of beads, glitter paint, and ribbon.  One suggestion is to use a really strong fabric glue or high temp hot glue simply because you really want these decorations to last through washings and accidental dryings.  Its really not a good idea to put shirts decorated with jewels in the dryer so I suggest hanging to dry, but I know it happens when you are in a rush.

Here is a picture of Macey's finished Hand Print Christmas Tree Shirt

She loves it an so do I!!

I hope you enjoyed seeing this as much as I loved helping and as much as she loves wearing it.  Let me know what kind of shirts you have made with your family this year.  

Have a great day and God Bless!

Peppermint Ornaments and Wreath

Today I went to my oldest daughters school to help her class make peppermint ornaments.  They were so cute and super easy to make.  So I thought I would share them with you as well as my inspiration for a wreath after they were done making their ornaments.

Here is the finished ornament and as you can see it is very cute, but very simple.

First to gather your supplies you will need:

1.) red peppermints, green spearmints, or both

2.) Pipe cleaners

3.) ribbon cut into about 6 inch lengths

4.) red-hots

5.) LOW temp hot glue gun

6.) glue sticks

7.) spray can of clear shellac clear coating

First take five mints of either red or green and arrange into a circle.  Then put a dot of glue between each mint until are all attached together.  

You are looking at the backside of your mint. Now you will take you pipe cleaner and cut of a piece long enough to make a circle large enough to glue to the back of the mint circle with out showing on the other side. Then criss-cross the ends of one of you 6inch long ribbons making a look to hang your ornament by.  The picture below shows what it should look like after both of these steps.

Finally you will glue one red-hot to the center of each mint.

Lastly once all of the glue had dried very firmly you will spray a coat of shellac over the entire mint area. Again here is the picture of the final project.

Each student made one of each color and they are too cute.  When we were finished we had quite a bit of the supplies left over so I decided to get creative (with the teachers permission of course) to make a mint wreath for the classroom.

I started by making a large circle alternating color of mints and gluing them together.

Next I grabbed some long pipe cleaners 

and attached them together on one end.  I didn't not make a circle since I wasn't sure just two would go all the way around the back of the wreath

I started gluing it around the back of the wreath in the center of the mints. .

Then I started another circle of alternating colored mints on the inside of the first circle.  I glued them together and to the outside circle

Then I glued a pipe cleaner around the back of the inner circle of mints

Then for extra stability I took a couple more pipe cleaners and glued them in a zig-zagg pattern between the two circles of pipe cleaners. 

After that dried pretty well I flipped it over and admired my handiwork. I decided that to add red-hots to it after having the alternating colored mints made it too busy looking. It wasn't done since after the teacher sprays it with shellac I am going to wrap a wide red ribbon completely around the top/through the wreath and tie it in a bow to hang bye.  She was going to spray everything down over the weekend so a truly final picture will be posted next week, but I just couldn't wait to share this project since it would be super fun to do with your kids over the weekend if you are looking for such a project.  Until then here is how it turned out minus the shellac and ribbon to hang it by

I cant wait to finish it up on Monday.  

I do have a few pointers for you if you decide to do it yourself.  Low temp hot glue was the only glue that would stick together and dry quickly enough for a children's project without melting/liquefying the candy.  everything else made the red-hot slimy or just didn't stick the mints together.  Also you NEED something on the back for stability and pipe cleaners is just what we came up with.  You can try something else if you like but this did the trick for us.

Overall, it was a fun day spent with my daughter class and was very productive.  I hope you like this simple, quick, and cute project, and if you decide to make it or another variation I would love to see a picture and hear all about it!

Merry Christmas!

Have a great Day and God Bless!